It was bound to happen, right? Considering George R.R. Martin regularly finds time in his busy schedule to provide blog updates on his own website, it was only a matter of time before he commented on the recent rumors regarding his baby, “Game of Thrones.”
After it was reported that HBO is moving forward with yet another prequel series, joining the already-announced series starring Naomi Watts and co-created by Jane Goldman, fans had plenty of questions. What would the story be about? How would it affect the current development of the first prequel? And do we really need more ‘Thrones?’ Well, Martin is here to answer all those questions. (And yes, he does comment on the idea of there being too much ‘Thrones.’)
“Jane Goldman’s as yet untitled show, which I am still not supposed to call THE LONG NIGHT, is one of those,” wrote Martin. “The pilot on that one wrapped a month ago and has been in post-production. I am expecting to see her first cut soon. (Last month in Belfast, I got a behind-the-scenes look at some of her sets, and they were spectacular).”
But really, as much as fans are dying to see what Goldman has cooked up, the big news (the newest news, at least) is all about this House Targaryen project that is reportedly in development. Martin confirmed the project’s existence, but not much else.
“The show stirring up all the internet headlines right now is one of the [other projects],” he wrote. “Also a prequel. Set thousands of years after Jane’s show in the history of Westeros. And yes, it is based on material from one of my books.”
The author went on to say that the new show does actually have a title, but isn’t “the obvious one.” That would lead us to believe that the series isn’t titled “Fire & Blood,” which is the name of Martin’s novel that serves as the basis for the series. But even though he wouldn’t reveal the title, he did want to update fans on the show’s progress.
“It has a script and a bible, and both of them are terrific, first rate, exciting,” Martin revealed. “I can say that there will be dragons. Everyone else has said that, so why not me?”
And for those fans that are concerned that the new series will somehow replace the previously announced Goldman show, fear not. Martin says that both are in active development and looking good. If having multiple spin-offs potentially airing bothers you, the author is also there to explain that you shouldn’t be worried.
“The world of Ice & Fire is a WORLD, boys and girls,” Martin wrote. “Huge continents, ten thousand years of history, cities, deserts, oceans, mysteries, triumphs and tragedies. If there were indeed eight million stories in The Naked City in the 50s, surely there are eight billion stories to be told about Westeros, Essos, Sothoryos, and the lands beyond the Sunset Sea, south of Oz and north of Shangri-La…”
He concluded, “And in these days of a hundred networks, channels, and streaming services, I think television has plenty of room for two shows set in Westeros… or hell, maybe three or four… I still want to do SPEARCARRIERS, after all.”
HBO has yet to formally pick up either show just yet. The Jane Goldman show is currently in production of the pilot episode. And as Martin said, the newest prequel hasn’t even begun casting. Therefore, there’s no guarantee we’ll get to see either one. That being said, let’s be real, it’s gonna happen.