Inside the HBO building, Lucas found himself in a hallway, instructed to sign in and wait for his turn. He joined the line of hopefuls auditioning for the "Seven Kingdoms" TV series.
As he took a seat, Lucas scanned the room, his eyes landing on familiar faces. Among the crowd were Jack Gleeson and Peter Dinklage, actors he recognized instantly. Their performances had left a lasting impression on him.
Jack Gleeson, known for his portrayal of the loathed Joffrey Baratheon, and Peter Dinklage, celebrated for his role as the witty and endearing Tyrion Lannister, stood out amidst the hopefuls.
Lucas shifted his attention away from the actors, channeling his focus back to his audition lines. He had practiced rigorously in his "Mind Workshop," a mental space where he refined his acting abilities. With confidence stemming from his thorough preparation, Lucas felt equipped to embrace the role, irrespective of the setting—whether against a green screen or on a tangible set akin to those in "Inception," with minimal reliance on green screen technology.
After some time, Lucas finally made his way into the audition room. Casting directors and the showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, were already seated alongside a casting agent.
"Good afternoon, I'm Lucas Knight. It's a real honor to be here auditioning for the role of Robb Stark. Thank you for having me," Lucas introduced himself warmly.
Some of the casting directors looked at Lucas with a hint of surprise. They recognized him; in fact, they were the very ones who had included Lucas in the casting process.
Interestingly, they had offered Lucas roles such as Joffrey Baratheon, Jon Snow, or Robb Stark.
It appears Lucas had opted for the character of Robb Stark.
David Benioff offered a small nod in acknowledgment, "Thanks for coming in, Lucas. We're eager to see your interpretation of Robb. Have you gone over and memorized the lines?"
Lucas responded with a confident nod, "Yes, I have."
D.B. Weiss added, "Excellent, whenever you're ready, begin with the scene where Robb discovers the dead wolf alongside Ned."
Lucas simply nodded in response.
David and Weiss, ready to watch Lucas's performance, were momentarily approached by casting directors who whispered something to them.
Upon hearing the whispers, David and Weiss looked at Lucas with renewed interest.
It was quite unexpected for them that Lucas, a rising star known from the indie film "127 Hours," would audition for their series.
However, this surprise only added to their anticipation: was Lucas truly as talented as they hoped?
Now fully embodying Robb Stark, Lucas stood tall, exuding an aura of authority and confidence fitting of a young lord. He maintained firm eye contact with the showrunners, David and Weiss.
"Get away from it!" prompted the reader, playing the role of Jory.
"She can't hurt you. She's dead," Lucas, embodying Robb, responded, his gaze fixed on the ground as if visualizing something lying there.
"What the hell is it?" the reader, as Theon, questioned.
"A wolf," Lucas replied, his eyes shimmering with a mix of curiosity and resolve.
"No. That's a dire wolf."
"There hasn't been a dire wolf south of the Wall for two hundred years."
The dialogue continued until the scene shifted to Theon wanting to slay the wolves while Bran wished to keep one.
Then Lucas, channeling Robb's commanding presence, declared, "Put your sword away, we're keeping them."
The reader, as Theon, challenged, "I take orders from your father, not you."
The scene played out until its conclusion, showcasing Lucas's grasp over his character.
After Lucas's audition ended, David Benioff spoke up, maintaining a professional demeanor. "Lucas, you've given us a solid grasp of Robb Stark. You've captured a lot of what we're looking for in the character."
D.B. Weiss added, with a nod, "You've brought out some of Robb's essential qualities quite well. There's an authenticity in your portrayal that we appreciate. Still, there's always room to delve deeper into his complexities."
One of the casting directors, offering a constructive tone, said, "You've matched Robb's physicality and spirit, which is commendable. Moving forward, focusing on the depth of his internal struggles could add even more to your performance."
The other casting director chimed in, "Exactly, you're on the right track. With some more nuanced work, you could really bring out the layers in Robb's character."
David concluded, "Thank you for your effort today, Lucas. We've got more auditions to go through, but you've certainly made an impression. We'll be in touch soon."
D.B. Weiss gave Lucas an encouraging look. "Keep working on those layers; you've got a good foundation. Thanks for coming in."
Lucas responded with a smile, clearly uplifted by the positive feedback from the showrunners and casting directors. "Thank you so much," he said with genuine gratitude.
David and Weiss offered encouraging nods just as Lucas left the audition room.
Once he had exited, one of the casting directors remarked, "Despite his youthful appearance, which might seem too young for Robb Stark, he certainly has the ability to handle the role."
Another added, "Absolutely, and considering his compelling performance in '127 Hours,' which was quite intense, I believe he can manage this role with ease."
David and D.B. Weiss listened to the casting directors' insights. David turned to one of them and inquired, "So, you really think Lucas is up to the mark?"
"Definitely," the casting director replied. "You might not have seen '127 Hours' yet, but trust me, he's got talent."
Hearing this, David nodded thoughtfully, exchanging a look with D.B. Weiss, indicating they were seriously considering Lucas for the role.