‘Game Of Thrones’: 17 Cast Members, Producers Share Hints For Season 5

“This year is cut throat,” Maisie Williams told Access Hollywood of “Game of Thrones,” which returns to HBO on Sunday night for Season 5.

Over the last several months, Access has chatted with members of the across the realm, and they shared with us hints at the challenges their characters will face in Westeros and beyond in Season 5.

Here’s what they told us…

House Lannister

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime and Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister in ‘Thrones’ (Helen Sloan/HBO)

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister): “He had the best intentions, he did the right thing — he thought — and it was just horrible consequences,” Nikolaj said of Jaime letting Tyrion go (only to find out his brother killed their dad on his way out in Season 4). “Tywin was a tough guy, but it was his dad, so he has to deal with the loss of [him], but the fact is, Tywin was the most powerful man in Westeros and he was what was keeping all the others away and now the Lannisters are very vulnerable.”

Expect Jaime to also face the consequences for freeing Tyrion from twin sister Cersei. “She’s not happy with Jaime and he’s gonna have to deal with the wrath of Cersei, which can be intense,” Nikolaj said.

WATCH: ‘Game Of Thrones’ Dean-Charles Chapman On Ser Pounce, Tommen’s Wedding

Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen ‘Baratheon’): Wedding bells will ring for the young King Tommen, but don’t expect a large pastry to make an appearance on his big day, which the actor calls a “more neutral” affair than Joffrey’s ultimately fatal ceremony. “No, there’s not a pie, because I think they’ve learned their lesson on pies,” Dean-Charles said.

And sadly, Tommen’s trusty feline Ser Pounce will not be featured this season. “No, he’s not. He was a big of a bugger really, on Season 4,” Dean-Charles said.

Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister): “He’s still drinking too much,” Peter said of his on-the-run character.

“Well, he’s done a bad thing, hasn’t he?” Peter added of Tyrion killing Tywin in the Season 4 finale. “Maybe to some people necessary, but he’s got a big heart. Can’t come out of that one unscathed.”

Peter also confirmed rumors that some unexpected major twists will happen this season, telling Access, “There are a couple of doozies, yeah, for sure. We have to, I mean, we up the ante.”

Conleth Hill (Varys): “Varys [makes] a huge decision in our television show as opposed to the books to leave everything he’s known for such a long time,” Conleth said of the move Varys made at the end of Season 4, to get on the boat with Peter Dinklage’s Tyrion Lannister.

“It’s a huge risk for him. It might not pay off. Who knows. She might go, ‘I don’t want you,'” Conleth said about Varys’ attempts to reach Queen Daenerys.

House Stark

Sophie Turner as Sansa and Aidan Gillen as Littlefinger in ‘Thrones’ (Helen Sloan/HBO)

Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark): “I think what’s great is she approaches this season and she meets people who really think she’s the old Sansa and she plays it like she still is,” Sophie Turner said. ” I don’t think they realize that she’s actually a big manipulator, and she goes through a lot of hardships, but she approaches them very differently. It’s very interesting.”

Maisie Williams (Arya Stark): “I had more stunts, which is not really spoiling anything, but maybe Arya uses a different weapon this year, so that was cool working with other means of killing.”

House Tarth

Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne and Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth in ‘Thrones’ (Helen Sloan/HBO)

Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth): “I’m not so sure that Brienne’s in such a good place at the start of Season 5. I’m not sure that she’s entirely happy with what’s gone on,” Gwendoline said of Arya running off while she fought with The Hound.

And expect Brienne to change as she journeys to various locations.

She has to develop different sides of herself, she has to begin to develop some wiliness and her overriding sense of honor to the oath she has pledged takes her everywhere,” Gwendoline said. “And that woman never gives up!”

House Targaryen

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Game of Thrones’ (HBO)

Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen): Expect more dragon action, according to Emilia. “I think Daenerys is learning how to wield their power, if I’m honest, and this season is such an exciting one for her because she’s got more fire in her belly then she’s ever had before,” the actress told Access. “You’re really seeing the Targaryen in her come out and that’s kind of riveting and exciting, so she might make some mistakes, but she makes up for them later on in the season.”

WATCH: Emilia Clarke: Will Daenerys Unleash Her Dragons In ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 5?

“It’s an incredibly satisfying season, I think, for audiences to be watching,” Emilia said. “I think a lot of the things that we have all been hoping for are beginning to come together a little bit more. That light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter and made for such a glorious filming experience for me.”

Michiel Huisman (Daario Naharis): “Towards the end of last season, things took a nice turn. He [started] to get a little closer to Dani, but once he got close, she sent him away to fix some issues in Yunkai and at the beginning of this season, he’ll be back from that mission, and he’ll try to get closer to her again,” Michiel said of his character, Daario, rekindling his romance with Queen Daenerys Targaryen.

And with Ser Jorah way, way out of the picture, Daario may even rise in power. “I think Daario always kind of respected Jorah in a way but completely understood and agreed that he had to leave. But what’s interesting is that his departure opens up some space in her close circle of advisors and gives a little bit more room for Daario to be an advisor, which we’ll see if that’s a good thing,” he added.

Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei): That little flirtation between Missandei and Unsullied captain Grey Worm (who is a eunuch) will continue. “I don’t want to give anything away, but you definitely see their relationship develop and grow.”

House Baratheon & The Wall

Liam Cunningham as Davos and Stephen Dillane as King Stannis Baratheon in ‘Thrones’ (Helen Sloan/HBO)

Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth): “Some of the stuff in this is very dark this year. The worlds colliding thing is very interesting. I mean, ours already did at the end of [Season] 4, with getting up to Castle Black and bumping into Jon Snow and all that, but at the same time, on a positive note, Team Stannis is probably in the best position we’ve been in since we showed up in the show. We’ve got an army, we’ve had a bit of success, and I think it’s time we made a play for King’s Landing,” Liam said.

Carice van Houten (Melisandre): That look across the fire at The Wall last season between Melisandre and Jon Snow wasn’t just a casual glance. Her interest in Ned Stark’s bastard will grow in Season 5. “There’s something about him. There is different elements to it, I think. There is female-male interaction. … She might be interested in him, but for different reasons, which I cannot tell you too much about.”

Kit Harington (Jon Snow): “Jon’s trying to do his own thing this season. He’s tired of listening to other people,” Kit said of how his character is approaching things.

House Bolton

Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton, Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton and Elizabeth Webster as Walda Frey in ‘Thrones’ (Helen Sloan/HBO)

Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton): “It’s about the Boltons solidifying their hold in the north and teaching [Ramsay Bolton] the errors of his ways and trying to reign him in a little bit, which is gonna be a little tricky, obviously, knowing Ramsay,” Michael said.

Alfie Allen (Reek/Theon Greyjoy): “There is some sort of light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s in a ‘Game of Thrones’ fashion. There’s one moment… which is somewhere in the middle, which is really going to blow people away, I think,” he said.

The Producers

On David Benioff’s recent polo shirt, which had “R+L=” on it:
David Benioff: Ralph Lauren’s a New York–
D.B. (Dan) Weiss: Icon
David: Icon… and I feel like it’s important to support fellow native new Yorkers.

On the show possibly telling the ending (in later seasons) before the books:
Dan: I think that one thing to point out is there are divergences between the books and the show, so seeing something happen on the show does not necessarily mean you’ve seen what’s going to happen in the books, which seems to keep things exciting and fresh for everybody.

“Game of Thrones” premieres Sunday night at 9 PM ET/PT on HBO.

Jolie Lash

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