It's about time Peter Dinklage returned to TV.

The actor has been tapped to play a key role in HBO's fantasy pilot Game of Thrones. The pilot is based on George R.R. Martin's "Songs of Fire and Ice" novels and will take place in a violent fantasy kingdom. Dinklage will play the brother of the kingdom's queen, who is shunned because of his size.

Game of Thrones will reunite Dinklage with The Station Agent director Tom McCarthy, who is directing the pilot. McCarthy seems like an odd choice to direct a fantasy pilot. The actor-turned-director has only helmed two films, Agent and The Visitor, both low budget character dramas. Hopefully, this means Game of Thrones will deliver good character drama, as well as cool fantasy elements.

If any fans of the critically-acclaimed HBO drama The Wire would like to visit the set sometime in the future, you better bring a shopping list. It's being turned into a Wegman's Food Market.

Yup, The Wire is ending after this upcoming season. I have to admire the show for ending after five seasons even though it's a big hit with critics and loyal fans. I've often said that many shows should be like novels and have a definite end time (Lost, Alias, other shows) so they don't go out of control or overstay their welcome or come up with lame plots in later seasons, so it's good to actually hear that creator and executive producer David Simon feels the same way.

This final season will focus on the slimy tactics some people in the media use (that doesn't include bloggers, of course). The show returns in January.

[via TV Tattle]