When we last saw Bran Stark on Game of Thrones, he and his band of children (plus trusted ally Hodor) were marching North of the Wall -- for what purpose, none of them knows exactly. But it's got something to do with Bran's (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) strange powers and the coming war with the white walkers.
Hempstead-Wright tells The Hollywood Reporter season 4 of the HBO series will delve deeper into his character's "mystical powers."
"In season, they become highly important," he says.
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Hempstead-Wright, who turns 15 this month, was just 10 when he began working on Thrones, a show known for its sex, violence and brutality. He was too young to read the books, but has watched the show with his family since the beginning – something that can at times get uncomfortable.
"I tend to watch it with the family, which can sometimes get a little awkward," Hempstead-Wright says. "That's actually been nice because it has actually given me – not an accelerated learning – but the ability to talk about my mum about these things."
Read THR's full conversation with Hempstead-Wright below, where he also discusses what he'd like to see happen to his character ("more excitement") and what it's like when he and the other Stark actors get together.
What's Bran up to when we catch up?
Bran is again sort of starting to explore more and more and more his mystical powers. We've had definite hints of them in past seasons, especially in season 3 with the addition of Jojen and Meera. In season, they become highly important.
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What are your hopes for Bran as the show moves forward?
I hope no more bad happens to him. He's been through a lot so I don’t want anything more dire for him. I also long for more excitement for his storyline. His storyline -- it's very much on the slow burn. It's not very much on the forefront, although it's having a hugely direct impact on Westeros. It's almost a sideline kind of one. I've always wanted him to meet a new character, or to meet some of the other old characters from the show.
What's it look like working with Kristian Nairn, who plays Hodor?
When you are within four centimeters of another human being, you either love them or hate them. Luckily it's the former for us. Christian has a very dry since of humor.
Does he complain about caring you around – especially since you've grown quite a bit since the show started?
In season 4, they've got a rope and he drags me around. No one's putting ant-growth hormones in my water.
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What was the hardest part about shooting this season?
Every season in Belfast is dire. The heavens open and there's a torrential downpour.
That's probably one of the biggest challenges. People think when we're in some glamorous Hollywood thing but it's not that at all.
What are the fellow Starks like?
We get along very well. Sophie (Turner) and Maisie (Williams) in particular are really good mates. We're frequently meet up and catch up on all the latest. What's really nice about all of these premieres and press days or junkets is we get to meet up again. The thing is you don't always know all of the cast, and the cast is absolutely enormous, there's a new character introduced a day.
How do you plan on watching this season?
I tend to watch it with the family, which can sometimes get a little awkward. That's actually been nice because it has actually given me – not an accelerated learning – but the ability to talk about my mum about these things.
Would they watch if they were in it?
I think my dad would have watched it. I'm not actually a fantasy fan, but I've been pulled in. It's not strictly a fantasy, it's got all sorts of elements that are relatable to this world. And the characters are so wonderfully developed and complex and deep – and all of them have their nuances.
Have you read the books?
When I started they were a bit much for a 10 –year-old. I would like to read them someday.
Game of Thrones returns Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO.
Stay tuned to THR.com/GoT for more interviews and season 4 speculation throughout the week.
