<P> After the pilot was shot and the series picked up, it was announced that the role of Catelyn had been recast, with Michelle Fairley replacing Ehle . Later, it was also confirmed that Emilia Clarke would replace Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys . The rest of the cast was filled out in the second half of the year, and included Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister, Aidan Gillen as Petyr' Littlefinger' Baelish, and Conleth Hill as Varys . </P> <P> The pilot episode was initially filmed on location in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Morocco by Tom McCarthy between October 24 and November 19, 2009 . However, the pilot was deemed unsatisfactory and much of it had to be reshot together with the other episodes of the season in Northern Ireland and Malta . </P> <P> Most scenes were shot in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland border counties . Principal photography was scheduled to begin on July 26, 2010, with the primary studio location being the Paint Hall Studio in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast, Northern Ireland . Among various locations for the initial shooting of the pilot in 2009, Doune Castle in central Scotland was used as the location for Winterfell, including scenes at its great hall (the great hall was later recreated in a soundstage in Northern Ireland). Additional filming locations included Cairncastle at Larne, Shane's Castle, and Tollymore Forest Park, all in Northern Ireland . In the 2010 shooting of the series, Castle Ward was used as Winterfell instead of Doune Castle, with Cairncastle for some exterior Winterfell scenes . The set for Castle Black was built at Magheramorne quarry . The show's presence in Northern Ireland and use of Paint Hall created hundreds of jobs for residents, and made the area "a hub for film and television production". </P> <P> The "King's Landing" exterior scenes were shot at various locations in Malta, including the city of Mdina and the island of Gozo . The filming in Malta resulted in controversy when a protected ecosystem was damaged by a subcontractor . </P>

When was game of thrones season 1 filmed