Cindy Ord/Getty ImagesGame of Thrones fans, prepare to geek out!
Pedro Pascal has been cast in the HBO hit series' most buzzed-about new role for its upcoming fourth season, the network confirms to E! News. Pascal, a Chilean actor who was most recently seen on USA Network's new series Graceland, will play Prince Oberyn Martell, who may have one of the coolest nicknames ever: The Red Viper.
Fans can expect the newbie to make quite the impression on many of the show's characters, as showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss tell EW.com, who first reported Pascal's casting, "The boys love him, the girls love him, and he loves them all back. Unless your last name is Lannister."
For fans who haven't read George R.R. Martin's book series, here's some need-to-know (non-spoilery) facts about Oberyn: He's a brash and charming prince of Dorne, whose sister Elia was murdered by Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, a Lannister knight, when Robert Baratheon and the Lannisters overthrew Mad King Aerys. He'll be heading to King's Landing with one thing on his mind: Revenge. Watch out, Lannisters!
"This was a tough one," Benioff and Weiss admit of casting the role. "The Red Viper is sexy and charming, yet believably dangerous; intensely likable, yet driven by hate...We found a fellow who can handle the job description and make it seem effortless. He wasn't easy to find and he won't be easy to stop."
Pascal has made memorable appearances on CBS' The Good Wife and ABC's Red Widow.
Fans can expect to get some more season four scoop when Game of Thrones' showrunners and actors hit San Diego Comic-Con for their panel in July.