Craig Mazin, creator of Emmy-award winning show Chernobyl, revealed what he *really* thought of the original pilot episode of Game of Thrones.
He was one of the few people who saw the original pilot, but he wasn’t exactly singing the show’s praises after walking out of the preview screening.
Fielding questions after the Emmy awards show, he said: ‘I didn’t say [the original pilot episode was a] piece of s**t – what I said was they had a massive problem.’
After exchanging an eyebrow-raising look with GoT exec producer Carolyn Strauss, Craig then quickly began raving about the show’s extensive reshooting.
‘They had a massive problem [and] they fixed it,’ he clarified.
‘It was one of the most amazing moments of my life – just watching something that I thought was irreparably damaged and then seeing the new episode.’
‘I was flabbergasted. It wasn’t just that something had gone from troubled to ok, [it was] something that had gone from troubled to mind-blowingly good.’
‘It’s the most remarkable turnaround in Hollywood history. It became, rightfully so, a legend of television. I’ve watched every second of it,’ he said.
The reporter on Sunday night asked Craig the question about the pilot episode’s transformation after he previously revealed similar thoughts in 2016.
According to Vanity Fair, creator Dave Benioff said: ‘None of [our friends] realized that Jaime and Cersei were brother and sister, which is a major, major plot point that we had somehow failed to establish.’
After taking notes from Craig and some other close friends, Benioff stated: ‘I just remembered writing in all caps, “MASSIVE PROBLEM,” and it’s all I could think about the rest of the night. Craig didn’t really have any great ideas except that he said “change everything.”‘
As a result of that showing, Benioff and co-creator Dan Weiss reportedly changed more than 90% of the pilot, resulting in the first episode we know today.
Game of Thrones picked up two Emmy awards on Sunday night, including Outstanding Drama Series and Peter Dinklage for Supporting Actor, as well as 10 awards at the Creative Arts Emmys last week.
Chernobyl picked up three awards at this year’s Emmys – Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Limited Series and Writing for a Limited Series or TV Movie.
The story focusses on the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986.
Craig confirmed the five-part TV series will not be getting a second season, despite Sunday night’s Emmys success.
He said: ‘We will not be doing that.’
‘We told a story of a place in time and we did it pretty darn well, and it’s time to start thinking about other places and other times.
‘Whatever we look at, whether it’s fiction or based on history, it’s relevant to who we are now and what we’re facing,’ he said.
Emmys 2019 winners list
Writing for a Comedy Series – Fleabag, Episode 1, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Directing for a Comedy Series – Fleabag, Episode 1, Harry Bradbeer
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bill Hader, Barry
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Competition Programe – RuPaul’s Drag Race
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Patricia Arquette, The Act
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie – Stellan Skarsgård, Chernobyl
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie – Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal
Writing for a Limited Series or TV Movie – Chernobyl, Craig Mazin
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie – Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
Television Movie – Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Outstanding Limited Series – Chernobyl
Variety Talk Series – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Variety Sketch Series – Saturday Night Live
Directing for a Variety Series – Saturday Night Live, Host: Adam Sandler
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Writing for a Drama Series – Succession, Nobody Is Ever Missing, Jesse Armstrong
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Julia Garner, Ozark
Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Billy Porter, Pose
Directing for a Drama Series – Ozark, Reparations, Jason Bateman
Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Comedy Series – Fleabag
Drama Series
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