A new book from HBO and Insight Editions called “The Art of Game of Thrones” reveals production design secrets and never-before-seen concept artwork from the series.
In an exclusive preview for Insider, fans can see one piece of concept art that was never used on the final season.
Jon Snow walks away from Tyrion and outside past some Unsullied before heading to kill Daenerys Targaryen in the discarded scene.
The book arrives in stores on November 5, and is available for preorder now. See more preview pages from “The Art of Game of Thrones” below.
During the preproduction planning for the series finale of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” Jon Snow was meant to walk outside of the Red Keep in King’s Landing, passing a faction of the Unsullied as he walked towards the room where he would go on to murder Daenerys Targaryen.
A new book from HBO and Insight Editions called “The Art of Game of Thrones” reveals the concept artwork drawn up for this scene, among many other details and revelations fans will find fascinating. Ahead of the book’s release on November 5, Insider has an exclusive look at three sets of concept artwork made for “Game of Thrones,” which you can see below.
The forthcoming collector’s item was authored by production designer Deborah Riley, and features an “exclusive foreword” from “Game of Thrones” showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, and a preface from production designer Gemma Jackson.
Jon Snow stumbling upon a snowy Drogon and the unused scene with the Unsullied outside of the Red Keep
Emmy award-winning production designer Deborah Riley is the author of “The Art of Game of Thrones.” HBO/Insight Editions
The caption on this page reads:
TOP AND BOTTOM: As Jon heads into the Red Keep, struggling with a choice only he can make, he comes upon a huge pile of snow that reveals itself as a sleeping Drogon. Recognizing Jon Snow, Drogon allows him to pass through the door that leads to the throne room.
OPPOSITE TOP: Daenerys addresses her victorious Unsullied and Dothraki troops from the front steps of the Red Keep, with the Targaryen sigil draped on the smoldering castle walls behind her.
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: This concept art depicts Jon Snow, having left Tyrion, departing the Red Keep. Unsullied soldiers guard below, in a shot used in the episode.
As the final artwork caption indicates, the scene with Jon Snow walking past the Unsullied soldiers (presumably on his way to kill Daenerys), never appeared on the series finale of “Game of Thrones.”
Concept artist Kieran Belshaw, who worked on the last several seasons of “Game of Thrones,” spoke during a spotlight panel at Con of Thrones and explained how the process for concept art worked on the series. He and the rest of the team were part of the preproduction crew, which meant they would draw up concept art based on very early versions of the scripts.
Kieran Belshaw drew the artwork which appears on the cover of “The Art of Game of Thrones.” HBO/Insight Editions
It wasn’t unusual for scenes or locations to be cut from the final versions of the scripts. This is what appears to have happened with the Jon Snow and Unsullied scene on the finale.
The final version of this scene just shows Jon leaving Tyrion’s cell, and then walking up towards Drogon.
The Battle of Winterfell and key design tactics used for Ser Jorah’s tragic death scene
“The Art of Game of Thrones” is 432 total pages of concept art, sketches, and production design images covering “Game of Thrones” seasons one through eight. HBO/Insight Editions
The caption on this page reads:
TOP: The main strategic defense around Winterfell was the trench, which, on location, was 900 feet in length. It was filled with large timber spikes and kindling to be lit so that wights could not cross it. As the trench was purposely too wide to be jumped, collapsible bridges lay over parts of it to allow the allied forces to retreat inside the castle.
ABOVE: Jorah and Daenerys fight the wights in front of a trebuchet. It was built of steel so that it would not collapse and the fire could be controlled throughout the shoot by the special effects team.
OPPOSITE: Though fire can destroy wights, they sacrifice themselves to create a “wight bridge” of their bodies so that others can cross the trench and invade the castle.
The Daenerys and Jorah scene was designed from the start with a special steel trebuchet so the fiery lighting would be more controlled.
Daenerys and Jorah in front of the burning steel remnants of a trebuchet on “The Long Night.” Helen Sloan/HBO
All the other trebuchets and the trench we see on the episode appear to be built with wood. The special effects team used real fire on the set of “The Long Night” to help bring the battle between the Night King and the army of living to life.
Daenerys Targaryen’s map table in Dragonstone was designed with emeralds, copper, and even ‘bits of bone’
“The Art of Game of Thrones” arrives in bookstores on November 5, 2019. HBO/Insight Editions
The caption on this page reads:
OPPOSITE TOP: One of the most important locations in Dragonstone is the map room where Stannis plots his strategy to take the Seven Kingdoms. The Chamber of the Painted Table was inspired by a table map Winston Churchill used in World War II, but the challenge was ensuring viewers would be able to see defined geographical regions and strongholds by candlelight.
OPPOSITE CENTER: The stone dragons carved into the wall were updated in season seven to reflect the style of the entrance gate.
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Reflective jewels, metals, and natural materials were used for important landmarks: emeralds for forests, molten copper for roads, and bits of bone for castles. The final map spanned 16 and a half feet.
RIGHT: Jon Snow and Daenerys venture into the caves under Dragonstone, which yield dragonglass as well as insight into the creation of the White Walkers, which are more myth than reality to many in the Seven Kingdoms.
BELOW: Daenerys sits upon the Dragonstone throne, which was designed around the rock strata of Zumaia. In this way, the throne was not a movable piece of furniture but a part of the fortress’s DNA.
Dany’s map table in her Dragonstone fortress was an iconic set piece first introduced on the second season with Stannis Baratheon’s arrival to the series. As “The Art of Game of Thrones” shows, the table was inlaid with material like emeralds, copper, and even bits of bone for the castles.
Dany and her advisers standing in front of the map table in the dark Dragonstone room. Helen Sloan/HBO
The show was often only lit with candles and torch flames, which means even eagle-eyed fans might have had trouble spotting the individual materials which made up the map table.
To learn more behind-the-scenes facts about the production design on the show, and to see more of the concept art that might not have been used in the final episodes, fans can pick up “The Art of Game of Thrones” in stores on November 5.
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