On the heels of the tremendous critical success of the show's first season, "Game of Thrones" is preparing to return to HBO in 2012. Today, EW has revealed two pieces of major casting; Carice van Houten as the sorceress Melisandre and Stephen Dillane as Lord Stannis Baratheon.

Based on the popular book series "A Song of Ice and Fire," by George R.R. Martin, the fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom. The ensemble cast includes Mark Addy, Sean Bean, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Lena Headey, Kit Harington and Aidan Gillen.

Van Houten is best known for appearances in Valkyrie, Repo Men and Black Death. Dillane, meanwhile, appeared in The Hours, Spy Game and as Thomas Jefferson in the television mini-series "John Adams."

The pair join recently-announced season two newcomers Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell and Gwendoline Christie as Brienne.

(Daniel Deme / WENN.com)