The first season, which premiered in the USA in April this year, was filmed in Northern Ireland and Malta, while the second season will be filmed in Belfast, Iceland, and Dubrovnik, Croatia. The filming is to take place from September 18th to October 13th at several locations in the city – Minčeta, Bokar and Lovrijenac fortresses, the island of Lokrum and the Old Town entrance gates. A large number of Croatian film professionals and extras will be hired.

Game of Thrones is a highly popular adaptation of the fantasy novel series Songs of Ice and Fire by the American writer George R.R. Martin, while its making is the work of the screenwriters David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. The story takes place in Seven Kingdoms where ‘summers last for decades and winters can last a lifetime’, depicting violent battles within a dynasty for the control over the Iron Throne.

The first season focused on a noble family that ruled the North, its patriarch lord Eddard ‘Ned’ Stark (Sean Bean, known as Boromir from the Lord of the Rings), his wife Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) and their children Robb (Richard Madden), Sansa (Sophie Truner), Arya (Maisie Williams), Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Rickon (Art Parkinson). In addition to the Starks, there is the conspiring family Lannister, who hides many secrets and whose plans for the throne will destroy the frail peace in the country.

Croatia will serve for some of the Southern scenes, including most of the parts where princess Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) is trying to raise an army. Iceland will be used for scenes beyond the wall as Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and his Nights Watch brethren explore the North. Game of Thrones fan-favourite Sean Bean, whose character was beheaded at the end of ninth episode, will not be a part of the second season's cast. 'Sean Bean's character is officially dead', said the HBO spokeswoman Mara Mikialian.

Along with Peter Greenaway's Goltzius and the Pelican Company (the second installment of his film series The Dutch Masters) that was recently shot in Croatia's capital, Zagreb, the filming of Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik marks the return of big international productions to Croatia.

Game of Thrones – official website (HBO Croatia)
Filming in Croatia - useful informations