Following numerous setbacks in auditioning for parts in the Game of Thrones universe, British actor Steve Toussaint was finally cast as Corlys Velaryon for the prequel House of the Dragon. In landing the role, the 57-year-old became the franchise's first black lead character.
Weeks of eager anticipation finally came to an end after the show premiered in the early hours of Monday morning, to an overwhelmingly positive response. Toussaint will feature prominently over the next nine episodes before the series draws to a climax on October 24.
Lord Corlys, also known as the Sea Snake, heads up the house of Velaryon, who were reimagined as black when adapting George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood for the screen. Showrunner Ryan Condal had revealed that it was actually Martin’s idea having originally envisioned them as black in earlier drafts.
