Filming for the next season of ‘Game of Thrones’ is underway, but a few people won’t be making the trip back to Westeros. Last month, it was announced that Ed Skrein would be replaced by Michiel Huisman as Daario Naharis, a lieutenant of the Second Sons that aligns himself and the mercenaries with Daenerys Targaryen. Now, another character that we haven’t seen in a while will be making a return in season four, but he, too, will look a bit different.

House Clegane hasn’t been absent from the tale by George R.R. Martin since the Hound has frequently appeared in the show, most recently traveling with Arya Stark, but his vicious brother known as the Mountain has been off doing other things. Ser Gregor Clegane hasn’t been seen since season two of the acclaimed HBO fantasy series, but he’ll be returning to stand beside the Lannisters once again in the upcoming season. Previously, the character had been played by Conan Stevens in the first season and Ian Whyte in the second, but now Icelandic actor Hafthor Julius Bjornsson will step into the role.

The strongman turned actor revealed on his Twitter that he had landed the part and will be portraying the notoriously violent warrior when the series returns later this year. Check out the tweet with the announcement below:

 

Ser Gregor is billed as the largest man in Westeros standing at nearly eight feet tall. While not quite that size, Bjornsson certainly has the necessary muscle to pull off the look of the Mountain. How do you think he’ll fare as one of the most feared men in the Seven Kingdoms? Are you excited to see how he does as Tywin Lannister’s Mad Dog? Share your thoughts on this monstrous man in the comment section.

 

‘Game of Thrones’ returns to HBO in spring of 2014.