'Game of Thrones' Season 4 Spoilers: Casting News, Pedro Pascal as Oberyn the Red Viper, George RR Martin's Reaction

The highly anticipated role of Prince Oberyn Martell has already been cast for season 4 of HBO's "Game of Thrones." The decision shocked many because it was thought that any major announcements would come at the 2013 Comic-Con in San Diego. However, Entertainment Weekly reported that Chilean actor Pedro Pascal has been cast in season 4 of "Game of Thrones" leaving many with even more questions. Many "Songs of Fire and Ice" fans questioned the casting choice due to the difference in race. The character that Pascal is playing is said to have a darker skin tone than the actor. However, series creator George R.R. Martin recently defended the casting decision publicly.

Pascal has plenty of TV experience, having roles on CBS' "The Good Wife," ABC's "Red Widow," and USA's "Graceland." Martin came to defense of the casting of Pascal on his blog recently. Below is what Martin had to say via Screen Crush.

"I wasn't present for Pedro Pascal's audition, but I understand that he really killed it with his reading. And since his casting was announced, the producer of another TV show on which he appeared recently has written me to say how terrific Pascal is, and to congratulate us on the casting. So I suspect that he will turn out to be a wonderful Red Viper.

I do know that David and Dan and HBO do favor having a racially and ethnically diverse cast on the series. It is true that we've lost several black characters who appear in the novels (Chataya and Alayaya, Jalabhar Xho, Strong Belwas), but to balance that, characters like Salladhor Saan and Xaro Xhoan Daxos, both white in the books, have been played by black actors. Missandei as well, though in the books the Naathi are golden-skinned, not white.

As for the Dornishmen, well, though by and large I reject one to one analogies, I've always pictured the "salty Dornish" as being more Mediterranean than African in appearance; Greek, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, etc. Dark hair and eyes, olive skin. Pedro Pascal is Chilean. (Check out Amok's version of the Red Viper, that's how I saw him. Or Magali Villenueve's beautiful and sexy portrait of Princess Arianne).

When and if the show introduces Prince Oberyn's daughters, the Sand Snakes, I expect we will see the same diversity as in the books, ranging from Tyene (blond and blue-eyed) to Sarella (light brown skin, as her mother was a Summer Islander). And I expect that the crew of the CINNAMON WIND will all be cast with black actors... assuming, of course, that Sam's voyage remains in the story."

Season 4 of "Game of Thrones" is expected to begin sometime in the first half of 2014. What do you think of the casting of Pedro Pascal as Prince Oberyn Martell in season 4 of "Game of Thrones?"