Like I said in my last entry, after reading the script, I think HBO would be crazy not to pick this up. But there are always extenuating circumstances. Let’s say everyone’s worst fears are realized and HBO declines to pick up the series. What then?
Normally HBO does not release to the public pilots that they have passed on. So that would mean the only people who would get to see the finished product would be the producers and HBO executives. Which would be a shame. There are so many fans of this series that are dying to see any part of ASOIAF on screen, I’m sure even if the series wasn’t going to be made many people would want to see the pilot. Maybe HBO would throw us a bone in this case? I have to imagine that most of their pilots don’t have the interest level that this one has, so you never know.
The more likely scenario is that someone with access to the final cut of the pilot leaks it. This is surprisingly quite common, especially for adaptations and other projects with a built-in fan base. For example, HBO’s own True Blood had its pilot episode leaked. Granted this was after the series had already been picked up, but it does happen.
All that being said, let us hope that we don’t have to resort to either of these options and that we get to see at least one full season of Game of Thrones.
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18 Comments
first!
i dont think we have to worry, there will defenatly BE a asoiaf series. otherwise, ill just shoot myself.
DejanQuote Reply
If the series gets passed on, we BEST get our hands on this pilot. Hell hath no fury like a fanboy scorned.
AnonymousQuote Reply
If the series is picked up would the pilot be used as the first episode? Or would they re-shoot it with HBO’s full backing?
AnonymousQuote Reply
Maybe we should start a letter writing campaign to urge HBO to pick up the series?
sonsofspartacusQuote Reply
As far as I know, True Blood is the only pilot to have ever leaked from HBO, so I don’t think it should be taken as a given that the likeliest thing to happen is that the Game of Thrones pilot will leak.
As to what happens if it does get picked up, as with True Blood, the pilot would be the first episode, but some things might be reshot (for example, if they decide to go with a different actor for a role) and I suppose some things like effects or scoring might be punched up if they cut corners for the pilot. I believe the True Blood pilot that leaked was missing a sequence.
BalerionQuote Reply
If it doesn’t get picked up, I will be a sad panda. But, I’m also concerned about the series starting and then HBO deciding for some stupid reason to end it in the 3rd season or some BS like that.
IMO, that would almost be as bad as them not picking up the series.
DemersonQuote Reply
I’m with JonL. I really hope that series gets picked up (this blog has done am excellent job of whetting my appetite even more) but I truly hope that HBO commits to the entire run.
I think there’s probably a better chance of it happening with A Game of Thrones than a typical HBO series because there’s already a built in audience.
OmagusQuote Reply
WOULD a letter writing campaign help?
Although you’d think that since AFFC was a number one bestseller, HBO would be entirely aware of the base they could be tapping, and although it seems that letter-writing campaign tend *not* to work when it comes to saving series, maybe sonsofspartacus has something.
If so, I await my marching orders from someone in the know about this kind of stuff.
Omagus’ comment about the built in audience got me wondering whether anyone can say who’s sold more books: George RR Martin or Charlaine (sp?) Harris.
You know what I mean? The Sookie Stackhouse books have a corps of dedicated readers themselves, “a built-in audience,” as well.
Not that True Blood is close to cancellation, or for all I know is in any way “a typical HBO series.”
rastronomicalsQuote Reply
Hung has been picked up, so that’s potentially one less open spot …
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ic41d147829e712a6a10e023fa9980d2e
munkholtQuote Reply
Demerson said…
“IMO, that would almost be as bad as them not picking up the series.”
I would be happier with one season than none, also i doubt that 7 seasons will ever be made, hell the god damn 5th book isn’t even out yet!
LegendQuote Reply
I’m still of 2 minds whether I really want to see it onscreen at all or not. If anyone can do a good job of it on the small screen, it’s definitely HBO. But when I look back over the years at things that I’ve seen, there have been remarkably few speculative fiction books or series that have made it to the screen in any kind of satisfying way, in my opinion. I loved LOTR, but I also had little emotional investment in it. The movie of the Shining was brilliant, as long as you different want to watch the book onscreen. I was incredibly impressed with the first two episodes of Legend of the Seeker (even though I stopped reading the books a few years ago), but now they seem to have deteriorated into a “rescue of the week” series. I’m still watching it, but now there’s so much divergence from the books that they might as well not be the same storyline.
JonL …I agree with what you said about Deadwood. As far as I could see it had as much fan support as any show that they’ve ever run on HBO, and there’s certainly no doubt about its critical success. I realize that David Milch wanted to make John from Cincinatti (which certainly worked out well for them…not), but most of the gossip that I heard said that it was cancelled because it was just too expensive to do as an episodic drama. To me, that doesn’t bode well for SOIAF in the long run. I also recall HBO making “plans” for 2 big-screen movies of Deadwood, and those plans are certainly dead in the water (if they ever existed in the first place). Rome was incredibly well done, although it did help to not have too much of a sense of actual history. Dune- well, there’s so many versions of it now that you can make a case either way for good or bad adaptations.
So much of speculative fiction speaks to people and exists in their own mind. From everything that I’ve read I am very excited about SOIAF coming to HBO, and I do hope that we’ll at least get to see the pilot. But judging from cinematic history, maybe it would be good if they ended it after the pilot if they’re not going to make a real commitment to follow through on the promise that they’ve shown so far.
JenQuote Reply
I would almost garuntee someone will leak the pilot if it’s not picked up. There are too many fans and too much demand.
I’m not too worried about what HBO picks up so long as it isn’t picking up another fantasy/sci fi or epic-style series this season. It’s going to want diversity among its picks to pull the widest range of subscribers.
For that reason, unless the pilot sucks, I think we’ll get at least a season of Game of Thrones. The built-in demand is that high. I’d get a subscription for HBO because of Game of Thrones even if my roommate didn’t want to split the cost.
If I had to point to any possible short coming of the series that might lose viewers, it’s that there’s too much traveling. I inevitably loved the Sansa portions because she stayed in the same place for more than two chapters at a time. The constant journeying, which is hard to keep track of as written, may become even more confusing on screen in a “wait, we just got here, why are we leaving? oh, wait that was the other group that just stopped but they’re leaving too” kind of way. For fans who’ve read every book, no problem. For people new to the show, might be a problem, which is why Game of Thrones might only run for a season or two. I don’t know if that’s worse than not being picked up at all.
world-dancerQuote Reply
you all think it would be possible/beneficial to start up a petition for this series? seems to me we could get HUGE number of people from here, GRRM’s blog, Westeros forums, etc. saying they would watch the show/buy hbo/buy the dvds… as this will come down to whether they think they can make $$ with this, we can guarantee that $$
BrennanQuote Reply
talking and discussing to my friends about this (i keep pushing those lazy fu**ers to read the books) they’re all mostly psyched about the series and they vaguely know what is it about in the first place.
its not hard to excite people about a thing that looks, feels and sounds great, even if they are completely soiaf unknowns..
DejanQuote Reply
GRRM has ruled out a petition as such. They generally don’t do much, especially online ones which are very easy to fill out. He did suggest way back when the project was first mooted that a polite and friendly email or snail-mail latter to HBO emphasising that you’d pick up HBO just for this project and would urge others to do the same may be more effective.
I believe that Benioff mentioned something about going to another network if HBO ultimately passes. I believe that effectively means Showtime (makers of the Tudors), unless there are any other US cable networks who would be able to do a series like this with as much graphic content.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Brennan, Like Adam says, petitions don’t really mean much in the grand scheme of things. In fact, it is probably more meaningful to HBO executives to see sites such as this one, Westeros and Tower of the Hand, so actively speculating on the series. It lets them know there is a die-hard fan base out there willing to talk endlessly about something that may never even happen. A petition just lets them know a few thousand people were willing to click a link and type up a quick comment.
All that being said, if someone does end up starting an online petition for the series, I will be sure to link to it on my blog here. Because hey, you never know?
Adam, Showtime is the only other alternative I can think of. I doubt they would pick it up though since it is so similar to The Tudors. After that, basic cable would be the next logical step. A network like AMC, FX or Sci-Fi and if those are our only options I would rather they just give up at that point.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
I hope that they realize that many of us will subscribe to HBO just to watch the series. I know I will. The amount of money HBO will get when all the fans subscribe could probably pay for the first season alone.
David
AnonymousQuote Reply
I’d personally be willing to send a snail mail letter stating:
“Dear HBO executives,
it has come to my attention through winter-is-coming.blogspot.com that you’re considering the production of “A Song of Ice and Fire” series.
I hereby promise to pay up to 60$ per season for the DVD collection if you decide to produce the series; I’m also willing to pay an extra 100$ per season if you commit to producing all 7 seasons (if the book series ever get finished).
Yours sincerely,
……..”
AlcatorQuote Reply