The last time we saw Bran Stark and his loyal ally Hodor, it was during the season 4 finale of “Game of Thrones“. That particular season ended with Bran, Hodor, and Meera finally meeting the cave-dwelling mystical Three-Eyed Raven, who turns out be a very old man whose body is fused to the roots of the weirwood tree and has been “watching” them the whole time.
When Bran asks if he will help him walk again, the old man tells him that he will never walk again, but he will fly. However, we didn’t actually get to see Bran flying in the 5th season because the show at that point has reached the end of Bran’s story in the books. Thus, the showrunners decided to keep him and Hodor out of season 5 altogether.
Isaac Hempstead-Wright is confirmed to be returning to reprise his role as Bran, the paralysed young son of Ned and Catelyn Stark, in the upcoming 6th season of the show. However, he will not be the same boy we last saw in the season 4 finale.
The new image from Entertainment Weekly showed that Bran is all grown up now, as his long locks and baby fat are no longer in sight. He is also standing at around 6 feet tall, which brings the question: Is Hodor still going to carry him on his back? The fact that he is sitting atop a horse in the new image may indicate that he no longer relies on Hodor to aid his mobility.
Details of “Game of Thrones” Season 6 are kept under wraps, but Bran is expected to play a major role in the new season. He will hone his gifts under the guidance of the Three-Eyed Raven, using his special power to view events that took place in the place. The role of Three-Eyed Raven was previously played by Struan Rodger and it will be assumed by Max von Sydow in the upcoming season.
Bran’s return was teased in the first teaser trailer for “Game of Thrones” Season 6, which you can view below:
Emilia Clarke, Iwan Rheon, Lena Headey, Dean-Charles Chapman, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Aidan Gillen, Natalie Dormer, Carice van Houten, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, John Bradley, Hannah Murray, and Gwendoline Christie are returning to the show to reprise their respective roles.
Kristian Nairn, Ellie Kendrick, and Gemma Whelan, all of whom did not appear in the 5th season, will also return to star in the next season of the show.
“Game of Thrones” Season 6 will air on HBO in April 2016.
