But it's been since the most recent book was newly released in hardcover. I have basically all but forgotten much of the series except for a few core characters. Mainly, Tyrion, Jaime, and the starks.

When I see "so and so has been cast as THIS character" I think: Now who is that again? Definitely need to reread. Someone said it's going to make The Tudors look like a bedtime story. I don't know how accurate that is. I didn't watch The Tudors.