Biggest ‘Game Of Thrones’ Mystery Has Two Possible Outcomes, But Which Is True?

Production has officially wrapped on Game of Thrones season 6. The newest season of Game of Thrones is uncharted territory for the groundbreaking HBO series. For the first time in its history, Game of Thrones has overtaken its source material, the A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Moving the narrative into new territory offers HBO and the team behind Game of Thrones the opportunity to keep most of the plot of season 6 secret from spoiler-hungry fans, and they gleefully accepted the challenge. A few spoilers leaked in the form of location filming, casting announcements, and unidentified sources, but some of these leaks have raised more questions than they’ve answered. With that in mind, here are some of the most burning mysteries surrounding the state of Westeros in Game of Thrones season 6.

Veteran actor Ian McShane was among the first announced cast members for the new season of Game of Thrones. So far, there has been no official word on which character McShane will play. According to fansite Winter is Coming, McShane gave fans a major hint while promoting a film in November, 2015.

“I am responsible for bringing somebody back that you think you’re never going to see again. I’ll leave it at that.”

There are two major possibilities. In the third season of Game of Thrones, House Frey delivered a dramatic and bloody blow to House Stark during the Red Wedding. In A Song of Ice and Fire, House Frey’s comeuppance comes in the form of Lady Stoneheart, the resurrected version of Catelyn Stark. Fans have eagerly awaited Lady Stoneheart’s appearance since season 4, but so far there’s been no sign of her. In the source material, Catelyn Stark is resurrected by Lord Beric Dondarrion, played by Richard Dormer. Lord Beric last appeared in season 3, when his power of resurrection was revealed to Arya Stark and Melisandre.

Could Ian McShane be a member of the Brotherhood without Banners following Lady Stoneheart? It’s possible, but unlikely. Lord Beric Dondarrion was resurrected by Thoros of Myr, played by Paul Kaye on Game of Thrones. There’s been no word of Kaye or Dormer returning to Game of Thrones. It’s possible that McShane was re-cast in the role of either Thoros of Myr or Lord Berric Dondarrion, but that seems a waste of such a high-profile actor.

Another possibility is Sandor “The Hound” Clegane. When fans last saw The Hound, Arya Stark left him to die after he received apparently mortal wounds at the hands of Brienne of Tarth. Could the Hound have survived?

Yes, at least according to fan’s theories. According to fans on Westeros.org, Sandor Clegane is alive and mostly well. In A Feast for Crows, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne travel to the Quiet Isle where they meet an Elder Brother of a group of monks. The Elder Brother tells Brienne that “The Hound is dead” and “Sandor is at peace” but pointedly never says The Hound is dead. Brienne also encounters a character identified as the Gravedigger who is larger than Brienne and walks with a limp. Many fans cling to these details as proof that Sandor Clegane survived. What’s more, Rory McCann, who plays The Hound, was seen in Belfast as production of Game of Thrones began.

The Elder Brother seems a more likely role for Ian McShane, especially considering the future implications. Another mystery surrounding Game of Thrones season 6 is the fate of Cersei Lannister. At the end of season 5, Cersei earned the right to return to the Red Keep by undergoing a nude walk of penance through the streets of King’s Landing, but Cersei’s penance walk only earned her the right to leave prison, it didn’t absolve her of a trial.

If the fan theory pans out, Cersei will receive a trial by combat, not unlike Tyrion Lannister in season 4. Cersei’s most likely choice of champion is Ser Robert Strong, the zombie corpse of Gregor Clegane. The Faith’s champion would then be Sandor Clegane.

The theory is so prevalent, there is even a meme associated with it, CleganeBowl.

Find out if any of these theories are confirmed when Game of Thrones returns in April, 2016.

[Image via HBO]