"Caprica" executive producer Jane Espenson will pen the sixth episode of "Game of Thrones," an epic HBO fantasy series based on novels by George R.R. Martin.

Espenson, who will serve in a freelance capacity, is the final addition to the writing staff for Season 1, according to the Chicago Tribune. The season will debut in the spring of 2011 with 10 episodes, and the series will span a novels worth of material per season.

Production is scheduled to start in Northern Ireland in June. Hiring for a variety of production jobs has already begun.

Joining Espenson in penning the season are script coordinator Bryan Cogman, who'll write the fourth episode; Martin himself on an unidentified episode; and executive producers David Benioff ("Troy," "The Kite Runner") and D.B. Weiss, who'll handle the remainder of the episodes.

Espenson is no stranger to the science fiction and fantasy genres; she holds credits that include "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," "Battlestar Galactica," "Warehouse 13" and "Dollhouse."

Expected to be reminiscent of their adult-toned series "Deadwood" and "Rome," "Game of Thrones" is based on Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, which chronicle the treacherous clash between royal families to secure ultimate power of the vast lands of Westeros. Royalty and knights play a perilous game of intrigue, where those gifted with unflinching resolve and a keen eye for subterfuge often conquer more than the greatest armies.

"Game of Thrones" stars Sean Bean ("The Lord of the Rings"), as Eddard "Ned" Stark; Lena Headey ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "300"), who will play queen Cersei Lannister; Peter Dinklage as her cunning dwarf brother Tyrion; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ("New Amsterdam") as her twin, Jaime; Jennifer Ehle as Ned's wife Catelyn Stark; and Mark Addy as King Robert Baratheon.

Check out the first official photo from the production below. It features a look at the opening scene of the show's pilot, which was completed in November at a budget reportedly between $5 million and $10 million.