"Game of Thrones" producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were put in a rather difficult position. When the duo and HBO announced the premise of what they will be producing after TV's biggest fantasy drama is done, people took to social media to express their distaste.
'Confederate': a daring premise from daring creators
We are talking, of course, about "Confederate," the show that "Game of Thrones" producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will be working on after the fantasy show has concluded. The upcoming project has since drawn ire since it was announced, mainly because of its rather controversial premise.
In "Confederate," the variety of characters will be set in an alternate reality where the Southern states have seceded from the Union, and slavery has become not only legal but even modernized. Many thought that the idea was distasteful considering the currently divisive political climate that is pervading the United States.
It was not long after the vitriol that the producers responded to the negative comments. As Entertainment Weekly reports, the people behind "Confederate" — namely Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Malcolm Spellman, and of course David Benioff, and D. B. Weiss —recently talked to Vulture to address what seems to be a growing disappointment towards the upcoming show.
'The outrage was premature'
First off, Benioff was surprised that there was even outrage when he confessed that nothing has been actually written yet. "It's [just] a little premature," the producer said. He did not deny that they may fail the expectations of the audience with "Confederate," but he drove the point they have not done anything yet — people judge too early.
Another point being raised by most of social media's critique is that Weiss and Benioff are "tackling the subject as white men." Of course, this is dismissing the fact that both Nichelle Spellman and Malcolm Spellman are people-of-color, and they are notable writers who work for "Confederate," as well. Nichelle said that she understands the concern, but felt like that concern should be reserved until after "Confederate" has hit TV screens.
She also implied that the four of them have some agency to discern what is insensitive, and what is not. "The concern is real. But I think that the four of us are very thoughtful, very serious, and not flip about what we are getting into in any way," Nichelle Spellman said.
In the end, the four creators have laid out reasonable points as to why the backlash against the announcement of "Confederate" probably came too strong, and a little too early.
