With the filming wrapping up in the latter part of 2013, HBO's Fantasy/Drama series Game of Thrones is set to premiere early next year, 2014, and will be introducing to the audience a bevy of new characters.

Fans of the series-be it the books, or of the show-recall the last few episodes of Game of Thrones season three, where several leading characters were so brutally killed off.

Game of Thrones has received notoriety for mercilessly offing their leads, beheading main character Ned Stark, played by Sean Bean, back in season 1. The lead-character body count has risen since, and fans have now been used to hearing about new characters introduced in Game of Thrones.

New Arrivals

Game of Thrones cast new characters, while also replacing some familiar faces with new ones this season.

Game of Thrones producers recasts Gregor Clegane for the third time, (season 1, he is played by Conan Stevens, and then by Ian Whyte in season 2) choosing big man Hafthor Julius Bjornsson to play the role of "the Mountain," who is the despised brother of Sandor Clegane, who in contrast to his brother seems to be someone you would not mind having an occasional pint with. Bjornsson-his name already intimidating- is 6"9 feet tall and weighs over 400 pounds.

The role of Daario Naharis has been recast as well. The suave sellsword, once played by a darkly charismatic Ed Skein, will be portrayed by Michiel Huisman in the fourth season.

The much awaited role of Oberyn Martell has also been filled. The warrior prince of Dorne will be played by Pedro Pascal; the kingdom of Dorne, a territory located far from the chaotic war featured so far in Game of Thrones, has its own royalty, all of them as ruthless as the reigning royals in King's Landing. Oberyn Martell's mistress will be played by Indira Varma.

Sherlock's Mark Gatiss will also be cast as a new character, Tycho Nestoris, a banker at the Bank of Braavos, which is notorious for making sure people pay their debts on time.

More Deaths?

A new cast of characters could only mean one thing: more characters to be killed off. Season 4 will be based on the later parts of A Storm Of Swords, the third book in The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, and will also feature material from book 4 and 5. Fans who cannot bear the horror of watching their beloved characters killed onscreen may start reading up, but if it is of any consolation, even those who have read the books beforehand felt just as much misery (if not misery tenfold upon seeing it realized onscreen)despite being prepared for Robb Stark's horrific death.

There will be more deaths. Spoiler: Some new characters will be stirring up some trouble which will end up being of fatal consequence.