WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON OF GAME OF THRONES
Fans who have read the Song of Ice and Fire series, from which HBO's Game of Thrones is based on, know what is coming next season: a long, nude walk of shame for Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey.
Earlier this year in August, it wasn't 100 percent that the scene would happen. The show is filming on location in Croatia, but when it came down to filming the nude scene, a Croatian film board refused. The scene calls for Lena Headey to be fully nude in the Great Sept. of Baelor, which, in seasons past, has been represented by the Church of St. Nicholas. The church, however, has a strict policy forbidding public nudity.
The two parties eventually compromised: the film board approved the use of nudity on the steps outside the church, as long as it wasn't inside the church itself. Showrunners instead have created a fake set that will stand in for the interior of the church. Problem solved.
Game of Thrones fans everywhere rejoice! But those excited over the idea of seeing Headey bare all might not want to hold their breath. The actress reportedly vetoed any and all nude scenes. Instead, Headey will be filmed from the shoulders up in the scene, with a body double providing the rest. See that pink umbrella in the picture below? That is supposedly Headey's body double underneath.
It may slightly disappointing, but the important thing to remember is that at least the show is staying true to the books. Sort of. We already know Bran and Hodor won't be returning for season five of the show after they reached the end of their adventure north of the wall last season. That's because the show sped forward Bran's journey and has now caught up to his place in the books, meaning there is no material for showrunners to go off of.
Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have said that author George R.R. Martin has filled them in on plot points that will be appearing in future books, but Martin has gone on record to say he would be very displeased if the show moved ahead of his work. Since season five is being split into two parts, that gives Martin a little extra time to finish the next installment, The Winds of Winter. Write like the wind, George.
