Max Von Sydow
Max Von Sydow will appear in "Game of Thrones" Season 6. Reuters

There's no summer vacation for the "Game of Thrones" cast and crew. With Season 6 production underway, the Internet is flooded with casting news, location reports and cast sightings. The week started off with the huge news that Ian McShane was cast for the hit HBO show, which was followed up by the announcement that Max Von Sydow ("The Exorcist") was also appearing next season. McShane's role remains a mystery, but Von Sydow will play the Three-Eyed Raven. Let's take a look at all the recent "Game of Thrones" Season 6 developments and Kit Harington Hair Watch 2015.

Warning: "Game of Thrones" Season 6 spoilers and "A Song of Ice and Fire" discussion ahead.

Von Sydow's hiring should be some indication of how much of a role Bran Stark will have this season. Having sat out "Game of Thrones" Season 5, Bran, Hodor, and Meera Reed will be back in a big way. When we last left Bran, he just arrived at the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven in the "Game of Thrones" Season 4 finale. Bran's group was captured by Karl at Craster's Keep and were able to free themselves after the Night's Watch, led by Jon Snow, attacked the encampment. They are later attacked by several wights and Jojen is killed in the skirmish. The group is helped by a Child of the Forest, and they soon meet the Three-Eyed Raven.

Bran's "Game of Thrones" storyline pretty much caught up with his "A Song of Ice and Fire" storyline and it'd be pretty boring watching the two have talks about magic and their abilities. We'd much rather see Bran warging into all kinds of things and using a Heart tree to see into the past, present and future. We already knew Bran would be a featured character, and Von Sydow brings some impressive clout to the role. "Game of Thrones" wouldn't waste such a talent on a minor character, and previous reports indicate flashbacks will be an incredibly important part of "Game of Thrones" Season 6.

Based on casting calls, there will be at least two flashbacks. One concerns a group of boys, and there is plenty of speculation of a Tower of Joy flashback. The Three-Eyed Raven will be guiding Bran as he uses his abilities and gives us a better understanding of the history of Westeros and important plot details, like the possibility of revealing the parents of Jon Snow.

Which leads to the other big news: casting McShane. The Entertainment Weekly report says he won't have much screen time, but he'll be of major importance. Fan speculation has narrowed it on three likely candidates. Sam's overbearing father, Randyll Tarly, seems like the best choice. McShane can play intimidating while Sam will be in Oldtown, and House Tarly has the Valyrian sword Heartsbane, notes Watchers on the Wall. Arthur Dayne was an intriguing name, but McShane doesn't fit the role of a younger swordsman. Euron Greyjoy seems set to appear this season, but will likely have a much larger role than what EW described. With a possible Tower of Joy flashback, introducing Howland Reed to "Game of Thrones" would be a great use of McShane's talent.

Over in Ireland, filming has begun and Sophie Turner has been spotted around the Winterfell set. On Twitter, Irish Thrones has been following production. Dothraki, plenty of horses and Littlefinger have all appeared in Ireland. Expect plenty of Northern action and the reintroduction of House Umber. "Game of Thrones" is still looking for a tall and powerful "Northern Lord," and that fits the bill of either a recasting of Greatjon or the casting of his son, Smalljon, according to Watchers on the Wall.

As for the Kit Harington Hair Watch 2015, it appears that the actor is no longer trying too hard to hide his presence in Belfast. Everyone involved in the show has said Jon Snow is dead, but viewers and "A Song of Ice and Fire" readers believe he will be resurrected in some manner in "Game of Thrones" Season 6. While we await more news, let's go back to speculating if "The Winds of Winter" will be released before April 2016.