New Game of Thrones Set Sighting Seems to confermare the Return of a fan preferito 

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Is yet another character coming back from the dead?

Season 6 has been a little more secretive than in years past. Sure, we know some legends like Ian McShane and Max von Sydow will be darkening the doorways of Westeros, but we’ve yet to see the traditional casting video and, overall, the air around this year is much more mysterious (due, in large part, to the lack of book knowledge). But while we may not know much about

members of the cast, thanks to some eagle-eyed fans on the ground in Belfast, we do know a thing or two about some surprising returns from

cast members. We’ll talk about that more, below the spoiler warning, so consider this your last chance to get out.

Are they gone? Good! The big news out of Belfast this week is that Rory McCann a.k.a. the Hound has been spotted staying in a hotel commonly used by

actors and crew members when they’re filming in Ireland. So will his character make a triumphant return? Probably! This is a likelihood that we’ve been kicking around ever since the casting call went out for a character matching the description of Septon Meribald, a man Brienne meets on her travels in the fourth book. I know you thought the Hound was dead, but the casting of Meribald is significant because there’s a strong book theory that a sequence involving Meribald reveals the Hound survived his wounds and is living out his days in anonymity as a gravedigger at a monastery. And, really, at this point there’s no other reason to bring Meribald into the plot.

But will McCann’s role be no more than a glorified cameo? In the books, the gravedigger is really just a background character. It would be a pretty baller move to bring back McCann only to have him wander around behind Gwendoline Christie for the length of a scene. But there’s another, more dramatic reason many book readers are hoping for the return of the Hound. There is a fan-concocted theory that at some point the Mountain a.k.a. Gregor Clegane and the Hound a.k.a. Sandor Clegane will find themselves in a fight to the death—possibly a trial by combat in Cersei’s name. (Remember, it was the Mountain who scooped Cersei into his arms at the end of her walk of shame.) While I admit the idea of a brother-versus-brother fight is enticing, it would take a lot of contorting for the plot to get there. But

is nothing if not obligingly bendy and Cleganebowl—the colorful fan name for a battle between the brothers Clegane—would be an amazing set piece for the season.

But McCann isn’t the only familiar face haunting Belfast and, no, we’re not talking about Kit Harington again. (Well, O.K., maybe later.) No, we’re talking about an

Stark this time. Earlier this week, Natalia Tena and Art Parkinson a.k.a. Osha and Rickon Stark (!!) were spotted in Belfast.

two since Season 3. (Can you imagine? Season 3?! We hadn’t even met Oberyn Martell! Joffrey and Tywin were still alive! The Hound was still ali—oh.) Anyway, Osha, Shaggydog, and the littlest Stark were last seen hightailing it north to the Last Hearth to take refuge with a family called Umber who are loyal to the Starks.

There was a Season 6 casting call for two separate Northern lords so we’re likely to see some Umber action and possibly some Northerners clashing over the fate/secret of Rickon. Maybe Sansa, full of the new knowledge that her brothers are alive, will head that way with Theon. And with the return of Bran and Hodor also confirmed, it’s about to get real Starkish up North. Now all we need is uncle Benjen.

There is one thing to remember both about the casting of von Sydow and the return of Bran Stark. Visions and flashbacks will play a bigger role this season on

so there’s always the chance that any one of these returning people—the Hound, Rickon, etc.—may only be in Belfast to film a small part in one of Bran’s dream-like sequences. That even goes for the next familiar face in Belfast.

Yep, it’s time to check in yet again with Jon Snow. Five days ago Harington obligingly posed for a photo with Marlon “Swoosh” Wallen, the founder of the U.K. dance troupe Flawless and former

contestant. Wallen was, you guessed it, in Belfast teaching some local kids to dance.

in Belfast with those Snowy curls intact. And if he

just there to visit friends or film a brief scene, he’s taking his time doing so. It looks pretty obvious he’s coming back, but it’s also clear he’s not the only one.

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