'Game Of Thrones' World Is 'Ruled By The Sword,' Peter Dinklage Says

Any time a beloved book series is adapted from the page to the screen, readers inevitably find themselves hoping the adaptation will be faithful to the source material and anxious that it won't be. With regard to HBO's upcoming "Game of Thrones," which is based on George R.R. Martin's saga "A Song of Ice and Fire," fans have been quick to jump onboard in support of HBO's adaptation, particularly with the casting of Peter Dinklage in the pivotal and deeply complex role of Tyrion Lannister.

In a nutshell, Tyrion, a disfigured dwarf, is the third child of one of the most cold, cruel and calculating families in "Game of Thrones." Because of his appearance, paired with the fact that his mother died giving birth to him, he has been the victim of much cruelty from his family since he was born. MTV News recently had the opportunity to chat with Dinklage about taking on the role and how he came to love Tyrion as much as the fans do.

"He comes from a very complicated family, and it really informs a lot of what he does," Dinklage said. "He's very intelligent, which is always a joy to play. In this sort of land where everything is ruled by the sword, he doesn't take that. He doesn't go through that door; he goes through door number two. He has a great facility with his mind, and he uses his mind to equal other people's swords," he explained.

Given the actor's experience with the fantasy genre, we asked him to explain how "Game of Thrones" is different from something like his work in "The Chronicles of Narnia."

"I wouldn't be quick to even use the word 'fantasy' with this," Dinklage said. "I know that's what's been used and maybe a lot of people would disagree with me, but I sort of don't see it as a fantasy, at least from the stuff I've done that was truly fantasy. You know, where water creatures are coming out of the ground and lions are talking. That, to me, is a bit more fantastical," he added.

When pressed to categorize the show, Dinklage struggled to come up with one specific genre. "This is more of a human drama; human drama, that sounds a bit funny as well," he said. "It's hard to pinpoint what this show is, but that's the strength of it. There are things lurking in the shadows a bit, which lend a fantastical element to it, but it's more about humans, people, laughs, making each other's lives a bit more complex."

"Game of Thrones" is set to premiere on HBO in April. Check out our other interviews with castmembers Sean Bean and Emilia Clarke.

If you've read the book series, which genre would you put it in? Share your thoughts in the comments!