If you are “in the know” about the hit HBO series Game Of Thrones, you know the show is based on the best selling book series A Song Of Ice And Fire by George R. R. Martin.  While the most recent season of the tv show has been jumping around books and timelines, we can be pretty sure season 5 will feature the kingdom of Dorne, and with it Prince Doran Martell and 3 of the Sand Snakes.  We might actually HAVE our first Sand Snake cast.

Who are the Sand Snakes?  ‘Sand’ is the name given to bastards in the realm of Dorne (much like ‘Snow’ in the North, and ‘Storm’ in the Stormlands).  Specifically, the Sand Snakes are the 5 bastard daughters of the Red Viper, Prince Oberyn Martell.  (There are in total 8 ‘Sand Snakes’ listed on the Wiki, but three of these are daughters of Oberyn’s paramor Ellaria Sand, and not considered the same as the warrior Sands.)

Eight sand snakes, in order of age:

• Obara Sand. Daughter of a whore of Oldtown, and given to martial pursuits as she considers herself a warrior, wielding a spear and whip. She is a sturdily built woman of swarthy coloring and no particular beauty.
• Nymeria Sand. Called ‘Lady Nym’, her mother was a noblewoman from Old Volantis. Nymeria is elegant, refined, and beautiful with dark eyes and silky black hair worn in a braid bound with copper wires.
• Tyene Sand. Daughter of a septa. Tyene is closest of all the Sand Snakes to her cousin Arianne. She is known to have skills in herbcraft and poison, and is regarded as treacherous, while maintaining a sweet and pious persona. She is fair, blue-eyed and blonde.
• Sarella Sand. Daughter of a trader from the Summer Isles. She is referred to as playing a “game” in Oldtown.
• Elia Sand, called ‘Lady Lance’. The oldest daughter of Oberyn’s paramour Ellaria Sand and granddaughter of Lord Harmen Uller. She appears to have been named after Princess Elia. She’s fond of horses and jousting.
• Obella Sand. Daughter of Ellaria Sand and granddaughter of Lord Harmen Uller.
• Dorea Sand. Daughter of Ellaria Sand and granddaughter of Lord Harmen Uller.
• Loreza Sand. Daughter of Ellaria Sand and granddaughter of Lord Harmen Uller.

The casting of Obara, Nymeria, and Tyene should be happening anytime now, as well as Prince Doran.  It was reported yesterday by WIC (Winter Is Coming) that Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes (who was the little girl in Whale Rider) has been telling her friends she’s already been cast as one of the Snakes in season 5 of GoT.  Uproxx ran the same unconfirmed rumor.  I’m thinking she’d make a bitchin’ Obara or Lady Nym.

I’m still just holding out for Oded Fehr as Prince Doran.