Game of Thrones star Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson has shared images of his bulked-up physique while he preps for a big boxing match. Game of Thrones, HBO's hit adaptation of the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, premiered in 2011 and ran for 8 seasons. It follows the various families of the fictional land of Westeros as they fight for their claim over the Iron Throne. Although the show ended in 2019, the franchise will continue in 2022, when the prequel series House of the Dragon premieres on HBO.
Björnsson's character Gregor Clegane, who is known as the Mountain, is a frequently recurring character who appeared in all but one season of the series. He's a fierce, bloodthirsty warrior who would torture innocent people and indulge in brutal violence, which is why he was a perfect fit to be employed by Cersei Lannister. By the end of the series, he was her only bodyguard, magically suspended between life and death after being poisoned with manticore venom, now having sworn a vow of silence until all of Cersei's enemies are defeated. Although Björnsson didn't join the cast of Game of Thrones until season 4, being the third actor to portray the role, he is generally regarded as the most popular iteration of the Mountain.
The Icelandic actor is also a professional strongman and former basketball player. Tomorrow, September 18, he will be competing in Coresports Fight Night 3 in a boxing match versus untested fighter Devon Larratt. To prep for the fight, Björnsson has been working on getting even more in shape than his Game of Thrones role. On his Instagram, he has shared progress shots that are frankly mind-boggling, even from the man who won the title of World's Strongest Man in the 2018 competition. See the images below:
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson has split his time between the sporting world and the acting world for some time now. In addition to his Game of Thrones role, he has appeared in roles that utilize his massive bulk like Kickboxer: Retaliation, Operation Ragnarok, and Pharaoh's War. He will also be appearing in the upcoming film The Northman alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicole Kidman. The Northman is the latest from acclaimed The Witch and The Lighthouse director Robert Eggers.
Seeing these images, it's quite clear what inspired HBO to bring on Björnsson to play the Mountain on Game of Thrones. He's more believable as an undead fantasy figure than an actual human male. Those who are interested in boxing should certainly consider checking out this upcoming fight, because seeing the Mountain in motion will be a sight to behold.