Original Daenerys Actress Hated Game of Thrones’ Lost Pilot: ‘I Did Back Out’

The world might never have seen Game of Thrones if they hadn't reshot the disastrous original pilot episode. How bad was it? It was so bad that the entire crew admitted it and even made fun of it.

“Nobody knew what they were doing or what the hell this was. During King Robert's arrival, I remember finding the whole thing ridiculous,” Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) recalled (via Entertainment Weekly).

Emilia Clarke Was Not the Original Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones Pilot

Before Emilia Clarke became the iconic Daenerys Targaryen, Tamzin Merchant was in her shoes. She was supposed to become our Dany.

But while filming the pilot, Merchant got a sixth sense that told her not to participate. In an interview to Entertainment Weekly much later, she confessed:

“During the contract process, I did back out. I was talked back into it by some persuasive people. Then I found myself naked and afraid in Morocco and riding a horse that was clearly much more excited to be there than I was.”

Bad Hair Day in Westeros & Another Major Issue in the Lost Pilot

If you think that hair is not that important, think again. Producer Christopher Newman said:

“Joffrey had a different haircut. In the original pilot, it was more pageboy cut, slightly pudding bowl-ish, like Henry V. It wasn't that it didn't suit him being a little shit, but it softened the edge. The modern cut in the version that aired gave him more spitefulness.”

Cersei Lannister's original look was equally questionable.

“I looked like a Vegas showgirl in the [original] pilot—furs and massive hair, like a medieval Dolly Parton. Not that I'm complaining, I loved it. My hair devolved,” Lena Headey recalled.

Nobody Even Bowed to King Robert Baratheon

Game of Thrones is all about respect. Yet the original pilot managed to miss even that basic detail. Mark Addy, who played Robert Baratheon, pointed out a major mistake:

“In the Winterfell courtyard scene, nobody kneeled when the king arrived in the first pilot. You can't play being the king. You can't display "look at how powerful I am." People have to give you that by showing subservience.”

George R.R. Martin Actually Like the Game of Thrones Pilot

Interestingly enough George R.R. Martin actually enjoyed the pilot.

“I liked the pilot. I realized later that I was a poor person to judge because I was too close to it. I liked that they kept a considerable level of complexity. I'm told I'm under penalty of death if I ever show it to anyone.”