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These leaked ‘Game of Thrones’ set photos could spoil a character’s death next season

Pilou Asbæk Euron Greyjoy Game of Thrones
Danish actor Pilou Asbæk is joining the HBO cast next season, which most likely seals the fate of one character. Getty Images

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" as well as speculation regarding potential future events. 

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Yesterday, a major casting decision as well as leaked set photos from Ballintoy Harbor in Ireland cemented for “Game of Thrones” book fans that season 6 would prominently focus on the Iron Islands.

With Danish actor Pilou Asbæk joining the HBO cast as Theon’s uncle Euron Greyjoy, “Game of Thrones” fan sites like Watchers on the Wall prophesized that many of the scenes would focus on Euron’s struggle and rise to power.

But that means another character’s death is in order before we can see Euron become the King of the Seastone Chair.

*Final spoiler warning: Do not read ahead if you don't want potential spoilers for the upcoming season*

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game of thrones drone footage ballintoy harbour
A man in Ireland captured an aerial view of the "Game of Thrones" HBO set at Ballintoy Harbour in Ireland. YouTube

It’s time for actor Patrick Malahide who plays Balon Greyjoy to leave the show for good.

HBO fans will remember Balon Greyjoy from season 2 as the old curmudgeon-y father of Theon and patriarch of the noble Greyjoy family that rules the Iron Islands. We first meet him when he coldly insults his son Theon — who Balon hasn’t seen in nine years since sending him to live as a ward with Ned Stark — for not paying the “iron price” for Theon’s clothes and jewelry (AKA stealing from dead foes).

“Did Ned Stark dress you like that? Was it his pleasure to garb you in velvets and silks and make you his own sweet daughter?” Balon asks his son.

balon greyjoy game of thrones
Balon Greyjoy has been long-dead in the books. HBO

It wasn’t a happy homecoming. Balon rejected the proposed alliance with Rob Stark that Theon had fought for and declared himself a king in his own right.

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Show watchers haven’t seen much of the Iron Isles or Balon since. Theon has since moved on to unhappier storylines with the bastard Ramsay Bolton, and despite a failed rescue mission by Theon’s sister Yara in season 3 (known as Asha to book readers), the Iron Islanders have largely been ignored in seasons 4 and 5.

Theon Reek Game of Thrones
Theon Greyjoy has it pretty rough as Reek in seasons 5 and 6. hbogo.com

Meanwhile, book readers know that a whole host of things are going down in the Iron Islands. In the fourth novel “A Feast for Crows,” we learn that Balon “falls” while crossing a bridge during a storm and dies. Rumors fly around Westeros that Balon didn’t actually fall, but was murdered by an assassin hired by Balon's exiled brother Euron.

Euron swaggers into the Iron Isles a day later, and soon after, a Kingsmoot is called to elect a new leader of the Iron Born.

The leaked set photos from Ballintoy Harbour and the latest casting news appear to confirm season 6 will center around this Kingsmoot storyline. Watchers on the Wall reported that Asbæk "was spotted shooting today with the cast around Ballintoy Harbour [in Ireland], in a scene that involved a crowd cheering for Euron." 

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In the book, the ironborn elect Euron to be their leader by shouting out his name during the Kingsmoot.

To add fuel to the fire, there was also filming near Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, which would be a perfect spot for Balon's demise.

Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge Ireland game of thrones
The Carrick-a-Rede rope Bridge near Ballintoy Harbour would make a lovely spot for Balon to fall to his death. jonesworth/Flickr

Rumor has it we may even be seeing Theon Greyjoy in the Iron Isles, too. Sources told Watchers on the Wall that the actor who plays Theon “Alfie Allen was present at the Ironborn filming this week.”

Notably absent from the Kingsmoot? Balon Greyjoy, who has gone to join the Drowned God.

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RIP Balon.

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