“I think all of us did, to be honest”: Game of Thrones Star Lena Headey Had the Perfect Ending Planned With a Fan-Favorite Character Before Showrunner Trashed the Idea

It’s no secret that the ending of Game of Thrones was universally criticized, leaving many fans, and even the cast, disappointed. Lena Headey, who portrayed Cersei, had different expectations for her character, envisioning a dramatic showdown with Arya. However, the showrunners, D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, didn’t take this route.

While Headey wasn’t thrilled with how her character’s story concluded, she understood the immense pressure the showrunners were under. Here’s what she had to say about her character’s final moments.

Lena Headey Wanted a Cersei Lannister vs. Arya Stark Showdown to End It All, Just Like the Fans!

At the Austin Film Festival in 2023, where Game of Thrones star Lena Headey was promoting her directorial debut The Trap, The Hollywood Reporter asked the actor the question that was floating on everybody’s minds, her views on the show’s ending, and her character arc.

Headey admitted she had envisioned a dramatic showdown between Maisie Williams‘ Arya and Cersei. Though she remained diplomatic, her comments clearly revealed her disappointment with how the series wrapped up. She explained,

I’m think all of us did, to be honest, because you start trying to write the story yourself. And [Arya Stark actress Maisie Williams] and I would fantasize about a Cersei and Arya showdown; that she would come back as Jaime. That was our dream. But they made different choices. 

She also revealed that despite all the differences she understood the position the showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, were at, as she said,

I think in hindsight, everybody understands that. You’re in it, and you’ve been so invested, there’s a moment of, “Why?” But I absolutely get it.

Not only did Cersei’s death feel anticlimactic, but the absence of any confrontation with Arya, who was a major antagonist throughout the series, was a letdown. Arya’s long-standing desire to face Cersei never came to be, making the buildup throughout the show absolutely pointless. Given Cersei’s reign of terror over eight seasons, she deserved a more explosive end. A final clash with Arya would have provided a perfect ending to her character’s arc.

Besides that even if the fans were robbed of that epic clash, they anticipated that at least Jaime would be the one to bring Cersei’s reign to an end. Instead, it was the crumbling of the castle that took the complicated duo out, something that fans never saw coming.

What Did Lena Headey Think of Cersei Lannister’s Ending in Game of Thrones?

Regardless of what words people use, the disappointment over Cersei Lannister’s death cannot be described aptly, not because it happened, but due to how it happened. Lena Headey herself was unimpressed with the portrayal of her character’s demise. Speaking to The Guardian about her character’s end, she revealed her disappointment with how it was handled. She said,

I will say I wanted a better death. Obviously you dream of your death You could go in any way on that show. So I was kind of gutted. But I just think they couldn’t have pleased everyone. No matter what they did, I think there was going to be some big comedown from the climb.

It is undeniable that Game of Thrones ascended to unprecedented heights, captivating audiences with its intricate world-building, morally complex characters, and unpredictable plot twists. However, the series’ final season marked a stark departure from its previous wins.

The meticulously crafted character arcs throughout the series were abruptly concluded and plot developments rushed to a rushed ending. What was once a saga renowned for its strategic depth and political intrigue devolved into a series of implausible events that undermined the credibility of the characters and the overall story. The rushed and unsatisfying conclusion left a significant portion of the fanbase feeling betrayed by the show’s immense potential.

Game of Thrones is streaming on Max.