British stage and TV actress Emilia Clarke has joined the cast of HBO’s Game of Thrones, according to the Chicago Tribune.  She’ll play Daeneerya Targaryen, replacing Tamzin Merchant.  Casting for the new series is largely complete (see ‘Lynn Headey in Game of Thrones”).

Production on the first season is scheduled to start in June in Belfast (see “Game of Thrones on HBO”).