New characters for Game Of Thrones

Reuters

Cast member Richard Madden speaks during a panel for Game Of Thrones during the Comic-Con International convention in San Diego, California.

San Diego - Television actors treated Comic-Con audiences to glimpses of their upcoming shows, including HBO's Game Of Thrones, which highlighted its new season premiere on Friday at a packed showcase inside the giant pop culture event.

Thrones fans, many dressed as their favourite characters, lined up hours in advance to hear cast members speak in a panel discussion that introduced new actors for season 3, including Mackenzie Crook as Orell and Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna Tyrell, also known as the Queen of Thorns.

George R. R. Martin, author of A Song Of Ice and Fire books that were adapted into the Game of Thrones TV show, was joined on the panel by actors Richard Madden, Michelle Fairley, Alfie Allen and others. Yet, little was revealed about upcoming season except for the premiere date, March 31, 2013.

Game of Thrones has captured audiences with its epic tale of a fictional, medieval world where a battle for the Iron Throne wages between the leaders of seven kingdoms who grapple with murder, betrayal, sex, love and moral questions.

“Everyone's sort of flawed in the show. I think the dark and complex characters are more interesting to play than straightforward heroes, but there aren't any straightforward heroes in Game of Thrones,” said Allen, who plays Theon Greyjoy.

Other TV highlights this year have been Starz network's Spartacus, which returned to the convention for the final time this year ahead of its final season airing in January 2013.

CBS brought new show Elementary, a modern interpretation of the Sherlock Holmes detective stories, as well as Comic-Con's favourite TV nerds from the network's The Big Bang Theory. - Reuters