Games Of Thrones Commissions Second Series

The epic fantasy adventure series Game of Thrones, which debuted on Sky this week, has been commissioned for a second series.

The HBO series is a dramatisation of George RR Martin's cult novel, Games of Thrones that is the first in a series of books titled 'A Song of Ice and Fire'.

The story is set in two worlds, the dark north, filmed in Northern Ireland, and the sunny south, filmed in Malta. The series pilot was filmed in Belfast and HBO was so impressed with the results that Northern Ireland became the main location for the ten episodes.

Filming took place on a huge set at Belfast's Paint Hall Studio in the Titanic Quarter, as well as various locations throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland and Morocco.

The series stars Sean Bean (pictured), Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Alfie Allen and Coleraine actress Michelle Fairley.

The makers' had previously said their long-term ambition was for each novel in the series to fuel a season's worth of episodes.

Although the first series has been completed, it is not yet clear how much the NI economy has benefited, though the government had estimated a figure of £20m.

(JG/BMcC)