'Game of Thrones' Star Kristofer Hivju Joins 'Fast 8' Cast

Kristofer Hivju from Game of Thrones
Kristofer Hivju arrives at the premiere of Universal Pictures' 'The Thing' in Universal City, California, October 10, 2011. He has reportedly joined the cast of 'Fast 8'. Jason Merritt/Getty

Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju has joined the cast of Fast 8, according to reports.

The Norwegian actor, 37, is best known for playing wildling leader Tormund Giantsbane in the hit HBO fantasy drama.

According to TheWrap, Hivju will play one of the henchmen to the action movie's main villain, rumored to be played by Oscar-winning actor Charlize Theron.

Though Theron's casting has yet to be confirmed, in February it was reported new Fast & Furious franchise director F. Gary Gray is keen for the film's central villain to be a "fierce female"—and feels Theron, fresh from her success as warrior queen Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road , fits the bill.

Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson are all back for the eighth installment in the Universal Pictures franchise. Jason Statham is also expected to reprise his role as Deckard Shaw, the main villain in Furious 7.

Diesel, also a producer on the series, confirmed in January plans for three new films to conclude the franchise:

"Universal has been so good to me and so trusting of the vision… they have been like family… I promised the studio I would deliver one last trilogy to end the saga," he teased in September 2015.

Fast 8 marks the first film without lead actor Paul Walker, who died midway through production on Furious 7 in November 2013.

The last installment in the franchise earned a staggering $1.5 billion worldwide.

Fast 8 is due for release on April 14, 2017.

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