Game of Thrones’ The Hound actor, Rory McCann, is keen to take part in the long-anticipated Cleganebowl punch-up. Fans have wanted this brotherly battle to take place for years, and the Game of Thrones season 7 finale teased it overtly. Therein, Sandor Clegane squared up to his brother – Gregor Clegane, aka The Mountain, who’s played by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson – called him ugly, and talked about his death. It was like a pre-fight smack talk from pro wrestling.

Long-time Game of Thrones fans will remember that The Hound and The Mountain have actually fought in the show before, way back in season 1, episode 5. The Mountain, who was played by Conan Stevens back then, lost a jousting match to Finn Jones’ Ser Loras Tyrell. The Hound stepped in to stop his brother from murdering the Knight of Flowers. However, that brief sword fight wasn't enough to quench fans’ thirst for Clegane-on-Clegane violence, and now that professional strongman Björnsson is playing The Mountain - in a zombie-like state no less - everyone is keen to see a rematch.

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McCann, as you’d expect, is up for it. His most epic fight to date came against Gwendoline Christie’s Brienne of Tarth, but a bout with The Mountain could top even that. Speaking to Den of Geek, McCann has responded to the Cleganebowl hype and predicted how The Hound would win in a fight against The Mountain:

“I’ve heard of this Cleganebowl. Bring it on! I’ve met [Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who plays The Mountain] a couple of times and he’s a big boy, I think I’d be the Jack Russell sort of [growls and mimes dodging about] so yeah. It’d be interesting if it happened.”

Indeed, now that Björnsson is playing The Mountain, the Clegane brothers aren’t exactly in the same weight class. The Hound would have to come up with some stong and potentially dirty tactics to take down his undead brother. Sandor does have something of an agility advantage, which worked wonders for Pedro Pascal’s Oberyn ‘The Viper’ Martell - until he decided to take a moment and recite a little speech - in his memorable trial by combat against The Mountain.

“It’s what drives the Hound still,” McCann added, alluding to the dark history that would motivate Sandor to battle his brother. As McCann notes, The Hound is “reminded every day with his burned face of why he’s like that and it’s shaped his character so it’ll be amazing if we met and [Cleganebowl] happens, but we’ll see.”

After that face-off scene in the season 7 finale, and all the allusions across the season to Sandor’s burnt face, Cleganebowl seems to be nailed on for Game of Thrones season 8. It’s then or never, given that the show is ending, and fan service seems to be the top priority at the moment. And while you wait for this battle to end all battles, why not check out some little-known facts about The Hound and The Mountain?

NEXT: Big Questions That Game of Thrones Season 8 Must Answer

Game of Thrones season 8 premieres in either 2018 or 2019.

Source: Den of Geek