Last week we brought to your attention the fact that there was a battle of words and intentions going on between George R.R. Martin and HBO. To give you the short version: HBO said that although they didn’t want to they would write their own conclusion to Game of Thrones if George doesn’t finish book seven by the time they are ready to film series 7. George’s reply was that HBO would need to do more than seven seasons (maybe a prequel season) to give him more time, but HBO said that wasn’t something they’d consider.
Well, the latest idea from George R.R. Martin is a movie, “It all depends on how long the main series runs,” Martin told The Hollywood Reporter following the season-four premiere of the hit HBO series. “Do we run for seven years? Do we run for eight? Do we run for 10? The books get bigger and bigger (in scope). It might need a feature to tie things up, something with a feature budget, like $100 million for two hours. Those dragons get real big, you know.”
My concern with this is that Martin seems to be ignoring the words of the show’s writers who said that seven was always the ‘goal’ and the confirmation by HBO’s president that ‘seven is a nice long run for us’. If, as I expect, that isn’t seen as an option, Martin did put forward the idea of a movie based on his Tales of Dunk and Egg being made as a movie instead. For those unfamiliar, the series currently stands as three prequel novellas, they revolve around a group of characters, including Ser Duncan the Tall, who lived in the mythical Westeros 90 years before the events depicted in his book series A Song of Ice and Fire, which serves as the basis for Game of Thrones.
“They could be the basis for [a film],” Martin added at the post-premiere party, which was held at the only place fantasy fans can really have a party: the Museum of Natural History! For fans of the series, Martin gave some very good news on top of the possibility of the movie, saying that “I have written these three stories, and I have about a dozen more.” George also confirmed that the prequel characters are the direct ancestors of some of Game of Thrones‘ players, but he wouldn’t reveal how they relate.
Certainly, I like the idea and can see a prequel movie happening far more than I can a ‘season 7 or season 8 conclusion’. We’ve heard this idea being thrown around before and it never seems to happen (24 for example). What has happened in the past is that movies have shown up after a series has finished: Veronica Mars is the latest one, but we’ve seen Firefly, Star Trek and Sex and the City all do pretty well in the past. I guess the question would be whether casual fans would be as interested in a series that doesn’t feature the characters they’ve come to know from the show (we Factioners, of course, would!).
Geoff Matthews
Julia Kitvaria Sarene
Speaking as an avid fan for the past dozen or so years who has read (and listened to) the books multiple times, I vote for the 7-season HBO scenario. Let GRRM give HBO the broad strokes of how it all pans out, they can film it., finish the series and move on.
The books and the TV series are worlds apart in my view. There will be plenty of additional insights and episodes in the books to satisfy booklovers like me even after the “the ending” is revealed.
I have to agree there. Some people may not like the comparison, but I’m going to say that doing what was done with Scott Pilgrim would be the best idea. Both series ‘technically’ end similarly – the broad strokes are there. However, the final book was wildly different from the finale of the film, making both worthwhile experiences.
If HBO can be given the freedom to do this with Game of Thrones, and Martin can finish off his books at his pace, that would be ideal. Plus, there will always be things that the books do better and different from the TV series that make it a worthwhile read in its own right.
The new series of 24 has been made. Its on TV in April.
Yep! But it isn’t a movie – it is a 12 episode series 🙂
My point is they spoke about a big budget movie, but it never happened (just TV specials and new half-series). I truly can’t wait to see 24 in London though 😀
I’m about ready to give up on this series altogether. At this point, I’m only curious about what happens to Jon Snow, and to be candid, I don’t need to wade through hundreds of pages of Cersei Lannister’s madness and the introduction of a dozen new characters to find out. I can just look for spoilers.
As for the series, I watched the first season and then decided I didn’t want to bother with it after that. But then, TV and movies aren’t really my preferred media. *shrug*
Amy