Pretty much the majority of modern civilisation has recently been alerted to the fact that five potential Game of Thrones spin-offs are in the works. No, that’s not even an exaggeration.
Oddly, I’ve not experienced the level of joy you would expect from a top-level Game of Thrones nerd upon hearing the news.
Why? As much as I am going to mourn the loss of the show when it ends, I don’t want them to c*ck it up with a watered down hack-job version that ruins my authentic GoT memories.
But I could just be being cycnical. Writers Max Borenstein (Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island), Jane Goldman (Stardust, X-Men: First Class, Kingsman: The Secret Service), Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Mystic River), and Carly Wray (Mad Men, The Leftovers) will be taking charge of four of the projects, which Game of Thrones author George R.R Martin has termed “successor shows” via his blog.
The big man himself has also confirmed a fifth show from an unnamed author who he deems “a great guy and a fine writer.”
Last Sunday Martin also announced in his blog that this mysterious writer is an existing Game of Thrones expert: “Aside from me and maybe Elio and Linda, I don’t know anyone who knows and loves Westeros as well as he does.”
Fans have speculated that he is most likely referring to Bryan Cogman, the author behind “Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones” and writer of nine GoT episodes throughout the series.
It’s also been confirmed that these successor shows will be prequels, not sequels. So that means we won’t be seeing any familiar Game of Thrones faces. Boo.
Martin wrote that “some may not even be set on Westeros”. This could take us back to Essos or even beyond the Known World.
Robert’s Rebellion is also off the table given that we will not being seeing any existing characters, plus Martin has confirmed that everything important about the Rebellion will be revealed by the end of the series. Hmm…you’re really not selling this to me, George.
Basically, these five pilot scripts indicate we will get at least one successor show. To be honest, I’d prefer it if George got on with finishing “Winds of Winter” (yes, he’s STILL working on it) rather than mucking around with prequels.
Hopefully I’ll eat my words.
#ThroneWatch
