The Game of Thrones star also discusses his time working with Henry Cavill on the new season of the hit Netflix show.
Big epic fantasy shows are definitely having a bit of a moment right now.
Just look at the recently released Wheel Of Time on Prime Video, or the upcoming Lord of the Rings show due to arrive in 2022, or any number of recent Netflix shows – Shadow & Bone, Trollhunters, Outlander, Disenchanted all immediately come to mind.
But one man who knows just how popular the world of fantasy TV is right now is Kristofer Hivju.
While his career hasn’t been exclusively within that genre – he’s appeared in Fast & Furious 8, Force Majeure, In Order of Disappearance, Ducktales and 2011’s remake of The Thing to name just a few – he is likely best known for his role as Tormund Giantsbane in Game Of Thrones.
And when we next see him, he’ll be looking very different…
Yep, the actor is playing Nivellen, and will show up in the very first episode of the second season of The Witcher.
For those who don’t know the lore, Nivellen was an aristocrat who has been transformed into a bore-like creature after he was cursed. If you’re thinking “Wow, that sounds a lot like the plot of Beauty & The Beast”, you’re not wrong, and during our chat with Hivju, he discusses the direct correlation between his character in the show to the much-loved fairy tale.
Hivju also talks about loving working with Henry Cavill, his time spent in Ireland – between filming Game of Thrones and he’s back over to make the bonkers-sounding Cocaine Bear – and he discusses loads more besides.
Check out our full chat right here:
Meanwhile, The Witcher Season 2 will arrive on Netflix on Friday, 17 December. Check out the trailer right here:
Clip via Netflix
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
