Speculations are rife that the role of a young Ned Stark, the Lord of Winterfell who was executed by Joffrey in the first season of the HBO fantasy series, has been cast.

Sean Bean portrayed the adult Ned, and although he died in season 1, the character is still relevant. As one of the few people who knew the truth about Jon Snow's parentage, it is a safe bet that we aren't done talking about or seeing Ned Stark on screen. 

The young Ned, according to multiple reports, will be essayed by 13-year-old English actor Sebastian Croft, who is an experienced theatre artist having appeared in London West End productions of Matilda and Les Miserables.

Rumours of "Game of Thrones" casting a young Ned Stark started doing the rounds in May, when a casting call revealed the requirement for a young boy with brown hair, green eyes and a narrow face. The casting call also said the character would be speaking with a Northern accent, and one scene would require him to spar with a wooden sword.

As for how a young Ned Stark would fit into the season 6 storyline, the popular belief is that he would be featured in a flashback scene. Last season saw the production introducing a young Cersei in a flashback scene in "The Wars to Come," where she was seen getting her future read by Maggy the Frog.

However, Winter is Coming speculates that it might not be a flashback scene that's awaiting the young Ned Stark.

"It seems more likely, however, that we'll see young Ned Stark through Bran's eyes, as the paraplegic Stark boy learns to see into the past through the eyes of Westeros' ubiquitous weirwood trees, just as he does in A Dance with Dragons. He might even glimpse young Ned Stark using the same weirdwood tree that old Ned Stark is leaning against in the header image, and everything circles back," said the website. 

According to another casting update, actor Fergus Leathem will be appearing in the upcoming season of "Game of Thrones in an "undisclosed" role.

Season 6 of "Game of Thrones" will return to HBO early next year.

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