George RR Martin has addressed future plans for Game of Thrones spin-off series and revealed some of them have already been ‘shelved’.
The 74-year-old author, whose A Song of Ice and Fire novels were adapted into the epic HBO fantasy series, has given fans an update on ‘several’ of the ‘successor shows’ set in Westeros and how they’ve been impacted by the HBO Max and Discovery merger.
In a new blog post, he wrote: ‘Some of those are moving faster than others, as is always the case with development. None have been greenlit yet, though we are hoping… maybe soon
‘A couple have been shelved, but I would not agree that they are dead. You can take something off the shelf as easily as you can put it on the shelf. All the changes at HBO Max have impacted us, certainly.’
Martin shared the update as he recapped his Christmas break, noting he had ‘a few days off’ and is now back working on various projects, including the long awaited new book The Winds of Winter, the follow-up to 2011’s A Dance with Dragons.
‘I did take a few days off for the holidays, I confess. Shame on me, I guess. But now I am back in the salt mine, working… working on so many bloody things, my head may soon explode. Yes, WINDS OF WINTER, yes, yes. And HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, season two,’ he continued.
He quipped: ‘Oh, and did I forget WINDS OF WINTER? No, of course I didn’t. But if I ever did, I know you folks will remind me.’
When it comes to Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, Martin heaped praise on the team and cast as award season approaches.
He said: ‘Oh, and awards season is at hand, and congratulations are due to HOUSE OF THE DRAGON and Emma d’Arcy for their Golden Globes nominations, and to Milly Alcock, Matt Smith, and the show for the Critic’s Choice Award nods. Well deserved. Finger and toes crossed for all of them.
‘But hey, when the Emmy nominations come out, I will be hoping that Paddy Considine, Steve Toussaint. Olivia Cooke, and Emily Carey get some love as well. They were all extraordinary.’
Martin has previously written on his blog that being hounded by fans about his latest book was ‘wearisome’.
‘I know, for many of you out there, only one of those projects matters,’ he penned. ‘I am sorry for you. They ALL matter to me.
‘Yes, of course, I am still working on The Winds Of Winter. I have stated that a hundred times in a hundred venues, having to restate it endlessly is just wearisome.
‘I made a lot of progress on Winds in 2020, and less in 2021… but “less” is not “none.” ‘
He added: ‘The world of Westeros, the world of A Song Of Ice And Fire, is my number one priority, and will remain so until the story is told. But Westeros has become bigger than The Winds Of Winter, or even A Song Of Ice And Fire.’
House of the Dragon is available to stream on Now.
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