One-by-one, the cast of hit TV show Game of Thrones are dropping in on the UAE for high-profile public appearances.
The fantasy drama continues to be one of the hottest offerings on the small screen and its stars are happy to spread the love in the UAE.
Two of the stars are making glitzy media appearances in the country this week alone.
Tonight (October 12), Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark in the blockbuster HBO series, will walk the red carpet at OSN’s season-launch bash, hosted at Dubai’s MusicHall on Palm Jumeirah, after attending a press conference for the event earlier in the day.
And this weekend Irish actor Jack Gleeson – best known as villain Joffrey Baratheon – will appear at the IGN Convention Abu Dhabi, the capital’s first pop-culture and gaming convention, which is at Du Forum on Friday (October 16) and Saturday (October 17).
Next month, celebrity strongman Hafthór Björnsson will follow suit. Known for playing Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane in Game of Thrones, the 2.06 metre-tall Icelandic athlete has reportedly been booked as the star attraction at the forthcoming Etisalat Fitness Fest, which will take place at Dubai Autodrome from November 5 to 7.
These latest appearances follow the visit of another fellow cast member, Miltos Yerolemou, known to Game of Thrones fans as sword master Syrio Forel, to the Middle East Film and Comic Con in April.
While his character only appeared in season one of the show, the Greek-Cypriot actor is known for teaching Williams’ character some serious swordsmanship – the same skills Yerolemou shared with fans during the event at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Since its premiere in 2011, Game of Thrones – based on the best-selling series of novels by George R R Martin – has grown into one of the world's most-popular TV dramas, attracting an internationally devoted fan base. The UAE, where it screens on OSN, is no exception. The fifth season ended in June and season 6 is expected to begin in April next year.
Williams will be joined in Dubai tonight on the red carpet (October 12) by The Mask of Zorro star Antonio Banderas, as well as regional celebrities including Arabs Got Talent judge Ahmed Helmy, Saudi YouTube sensation Omar Hussein, and actors Hayat Al Fahad and Abdulmohsin Al Nimer. The event will be hosted by popular Egyptian satirical comedian Bassem Youssef.
This weekend (October 16-17) Gleeson will be joined during the IGN Convention at Du Forum by video game and animation voice-over artists Adam Harrington (Bigby Wolf in The Wolf Among Us video game) and Dave Fennoy (Lee Everett in The Walking Dead game).
This flurry of Game of Thrones activity tops an action-packed week for the UAE's film and TV industry, which is currently enjoying the heady buzz of the continuing Dubai shoots for upcoming blockbuster Star Trek Beyond, and the Jackie Chan movie Kung Fu Yoga. Brad Pitt is also expected this month for filming on his latest movie, War Machine.
The IGN Convention, which runs from 2pm to 10pm on Friday and Saturday (October 16-17), also feature gaming tournaments, a cosplay contest, regional artist showcases, workshops and concerts.
• For tickets and more information on the IGN Convention visit ignconvention.com/ad
rgarratt@thenational.ae
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
Director: James Gunn
Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
Rating: 4/5
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
ALRAWABI SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Creator: Tima Shomali
Starring: Tara Abboud, Kira Yaghnam, Tara Atalla
Rating: 4/5
EA Sports FC 24
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, PC and Xbox One
Rating: 3.5/5
Europa League group stage draw
Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague.
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu.
Group C: Sporting Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Group D: AC Milan, Austria Vienna , Rijeka, AEK Athens.
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon Limassol.
Group F: FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Zlin.
Group G: Vitoria Plzen, Steaua Bucarest, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, FC Lugano.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade.
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes, Konyaspor.
Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersund.
Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem.
Group L: Zenit St Petersburg, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar
TWISTERS
Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung
Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos
Rating:+2.5/5
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
EMIRATES'S REVISED A350 DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE
Edinburgh: November 4 (unchanged)
Bahrain: November 15 (from September 15); second daily service from January 1
Kuwait: November 15 (from September 16)
Mumbai: January 1 (from October 27)
Ahmedabad: January 1 (from October 27)
Colombo: January 2 (from January 1)
Muscat: March 1 (from December 1)
Lyon: March 1 (from December 1)
Bologna: March 1 (from December 1)
Source: Emirates
Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
Specs: 2024 McLaren Artura Spider
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 and electric motor
Max power: 700hp at 7,500rpm
Max torque: 720Nm at 2,250rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
0-100km/h: 3.0sec
Top speed: 330kph
Price: From Dh1.14 million ($311,000)
On sale: Now
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
Squad for first two ODIs
Kohli (c), Rohit, Dhawan, Rayudu, Pandey, Dhoni (wk), Pant, Jadeja, Chahal, Kuldeep, Khaleel, Shami, Thakur, Rahul.
