HBO CEO Richard Plepler discusses the beginnings of Game of Thrones, and more

Game of Thrones has been the show that has propelled HBO to new heights, and as such, HBO is developing not one or two, but five prequel spin-offs, and we have good hope in those. In a recent interview, HBO CEO Richard Plepler talked about HBO, the beginnings of Game of Thrones, and more. Read on!

Plepler recently appeared on Variety’s Strictly Business Podcast, where he talked about the current shape of the entertainment industry. Speaking of the heavy competition in the industry, and how HBO is dealing with it, Plepler said that HBO stays relevant by making sure the creators are happy enough so that they make something wonderful for the people:

“…your brand has to stand for something and deliver on that promise so that people feel they are buying, they are acquiring differentiation.”

He then recalled the original pitch of Game of Thrones by showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss, and how he wasn’t sure about it as fantasy wasn’t HBO’s forté back then:

“When [showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss] came in to pitch Thrones, that was a fantasy show. ‘You’re nervous about this. There’s dragons in it. It’s fantasy. This isn’t typical HBO.’

And the way [Benioff] pitched it was he said, “Look, this is about power, and it’s about archetypes of power. And it’s Shakespearean, it’s Biblical. If you just forget where you are, you could be in 10th century France, it doesn’t really matter.” And we believed their vision.”

..and the rest is history! He didn’t divulge anything about the final season of Game of Thrones or the spinoff series. You can listen to the whole podcast, down here:

What did you think about this interview? Talk to us in the comments, down below!