'Game of Thrones' Prequel Casts Naomi Watts to Probably Die as Nissa Nissa

The next Game of Thrones spin-off has just cast its main character, and she’ll probably wind up dead after her lover stabs her right through the heart with a magical sword in Episode 2.

On Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter reported that actress Naomi Watts has been tapped to star in the Game of Thrones prequel series from Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, Kingsman) and Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin. “Watts will play a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret,” is the only detail we know so far.

But given the fact that Watts is the first actor cast for a show set towards the end of Westeros’ “golden Age of Heroes,” she’s probably going to be a prominent figure from that era that’s only casually referenced in Westerosi mythology: Nissa Nissa.

Deadline reported in June that this particular prequel series has a working title of “The Long Night,” a direct reference to the time period after the creation of the Night King when the Children of the Forest and Men had to unites against his undead army and the White Walkers — for the first time.

What character would Watts play other than the ancient hero Azor Ahai’s beloved wife, Nissa Nissa? As the legends go, in order to defeat the White Walkers and subdue the Night King, he had to forge a magical sword called Lightbringer by plunging it through the heart of his beloved.

This currently-unnamed prequel series will almost definitely have to cast Azor Ahai and Nissa Nissa eventually. It’s also probable that these two could be the main focus of the series. One interesting note in the official description for the show says “it’s not the story we think we know.” The legends and myths presented in the Game of Thrones books and TV show don’t convey the full story. After all, these time periods are thousands of years apart.

Myths and legends can only be so accurate, so who knows what really happened?

Prophecies from characters like Melisandre say that current events on Game of Thrones will mirror those of the past, leading some fans to theorize that Jon Snow is the new Azor Ahai and Daenerys is his Nissa Nissa. In which case he’ll have to kill her to gain enough power to defeat the Night King.

This Game of Thrones prequel series won’t air until at least a full year after the final Game of Thrones season finishes.