Isaac Hempstead Wright Thought Bran Stark's Fate in Game of Thrones Was a Joke

Isaac Hempstead Wright in Game of Thrones season 8
Isaac Hempstead Wright in Game of Thrones season 8 / Helen Sloan, HBO
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Warning: Game of Thrones spoilers ahead!

Though oddsmakers have been predicting that Bran Stark would ultimately be named king in the final episode of Game of Thrones for weeks now, many fans didn't see how that was possible. The all-knowing Three-Eyed Raven, whose powers and purpose have remained largely a mystery to viewers, was appointed the King of the Six Kingdoms (after Sansa Stark declared Winterfell and the North would be independent). Although on the one hand it seems logical for someone not motivated by power to rule, it also just didn't feel like a decision the show's strong-willed characters would come to so easily and unanimously. And the actor behind Bran Stark, Isaac Hempstead Wright, couldn't believe it himself. He was sure the whole thing was a prank when he first read the script.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 20-year-old actor shared his reaction to Bran's big scene in the final episode, "The Iron Throne."

"When I got to the [Dragonpit scene] in the last episode and they're like, 'What about Bran?' I had to get up and pace around the room," he recounted. "I genuinely thought it was a joke script and that [showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss] sent to everyone a script [where] their own character ends up on the Iron Throne. 'Yeah, good one guys. Oh s***, it's actually real?'"

But once he discovered it wasn't a joke, Hempstead Wright did approve of the decision. "I'm happy," he said of winning the ultimate prize. "Though I kind of did want to die and get in one good death scene with an exploding head or something." He also explained why he thinks Bran would do well as the ruler, poking fun at his character's ability of knowing and seeing all.

"I think he'll be a really good king actually," the actor continued. "Perhaps there will be something missing in having a real emotive leader, which is a useful quality in a king or queen as well. At the same time, you can't really argue with Bran. He's like, 'No, I know everything.'"

So what's Hempstead Wright’s plan now that Game of Thrones is over? We're not totally sure, but there's one thing he wants to do after last night's finale. "I just want to shout: 'King motherf***ers!,'" he joked. "Though that's probably not a wise plan, obviously."

It looks like he opted to take to social media instead, tweeting out a simple, yet to-the-point message.

We're glad the actor behind Bran can celebrate, though we're considering a rewatch of the finale just to get our thoughts in order.