“Game of Thrones” only has two episodes left in this season and that means we are getting closer to the inevitable conclusion. I am not referring to the much discussed, hinted, and speculated revelation of Jon Snow’s true lineage but rather to the fact that it will be the final and shortest season next time around. What’s next depends on what HBO and George R.R. Martin will agree to.
“Game of Thrones” spin-offs were already being talked about but HBO Programming President Casey Bloys said nothing definite has been agreed yet.
George R. R. Martin said there were already 4 scripts in development but another was added after the early exploration of ideas for the program.
Prequel or a sequel?
“Game of Thrones” writers and executive producers, Dan Weiss and David Benioff, opined about the possibility that the spin off could be a continuation of the characters who will survive or storylines in the final season. Unfortunately, the two will not be involved in the potential project according to Benioff who said that HBO should “get new blood in.”
George R.R. Martin meanwhile said the initial ideas of “Game of Thrones” spin-off were prequels rather than the continuation of the current series.
It is even possible that the “successor show,” as Martin prefers to call it, may not be set in Westeros.
No Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen stories
The likelihood of a “Game of Thrones” sequel was further dimmed with the involvements of Kit Harrington and Emilia Clarke denied. According to reports, representatives of Harrington, who plays the popular, Jon Snow, was not approached for the planned spin-off.
Clarke, who plays the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, said that she had no doubt that there will be prequels or sequels to "Game of Thrones." However, she said that there might be more intriguing spin-offs than a Daenerys' series. She added that she will be doing one more season of GoT and that will be all of her involvement.
Plenty of materials to work on
G R.R. Martin meanwhile pointed out that there are plenty of materials that can be used for a spin-off. He offered the idea of the adaptation of his Dunk & Egg stories. Each will be a two-hour stand-alone movie made for television.
The problem, however, is that Martin had written only 3 out of 10 of these stories so far. He doesn’t want the tv show overtaking the books as what happened with "Game of Thrones."
Another prequel possibility would be the story of Robert Baratheon’s Rebellion. HBO, however, is not going to adapt this story because according to Martin, viewers will know “every important thing” that occurred during this event.
Regardless of what story will eventually be adapted by HBO, “Game of Thrones” fans will have something to look forward to after the series ends.