Although there wasn’t any official mention of Game of Thrones at today’s TCA event, we did get an update via Matt Roush of TV Guide Magazine. Here is what he tweeted from tonight’s event:
HBO programming chief tells me they’ll see full pilot of Game of Thrones in 2 wks. Dailies look good; more scripts written. Fingers crossed.
Winter Is Coming: Good stuff. As I suspected, Benioff and Weiss sound like they’ve been busy writing scripts. Sorta surprised they will be screening the pilot in only two weeks. Initial reports had mentioned Modern VideoFilm would be working on the pilot in Feb, so either that was moved up or they are no longer involved. Either way, I’ve been told not to expect an announcement until March. But still, in two weeks a few lucky individuals will get to watch the pilot episode to Game of Thrones!
UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibberd checks in with a great article from HBO’s TCA event that contains some exciting info. Check it out!
HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo says the dailies for highly anticipated fantasy series “Game of Thrones” look “fantastic” and the project looks very strong for a series pickup.
“Everything looks fantastic,” said Lombardo, who’s become a fan of the George R.R. Martin books upon which the project is based. “The director got great performances. Unlike a lot of projects like this, everything was shot on location. It has such a rich texture that it looks more expensive than it actually was.”
The network spent $5 million-$10 million on the pilot to bring castle Winterfell to life. Lombardo says executives are “sitting on pins and needles” waiting for a rough cut in two weeks.
“The fantasy is so incidental, it has a very adult tone,” Lombardo said. “You forget it’s fantasy while you’re watching it, and that’s what I love about it.”
The pilot will employ some CGI, for backgrounds, the story’s “direwolves” (a mixture of real animals and CGI) and dragon eggs.
Also, like in the books, each family in the story will have its own color pallet for clothing and armor.
If all goes well, Lombardo said, “Game of Thrones” will be on HBO in spring 2011 — “March or April.”
“I would be surprised if it doesn’t [get greenlit],” Lombardo said. “It has everything going for it.”
Winter Is Coming: So excited right now! The head of programming at HBO is a fan of the books! Sounds like we are this close to a series pick up. Don’t know when it will be forthcoming, but it seems like just a formality at this point. I mean, they are already talking premiere dates!
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71 Comments
FURST!
Yeah, Mo Ryan said she was still pretty sure HBO wouldn't make the decision before March, and I'd say to be thinking the end of March rather than holding out hope for news before then. Cynicism is the way to go I think ;-)
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
SEEMS like good news….
Why no decision until march, when its already ready for screening?
I'll just choose to believe they simply keep saying march to be on the safe side, but really, the pick-up might very well happen before.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Yeah, i prefer denial to cynicism…
sjweningsQuote Reply
I'm getting a feeling (just a feeling, no inside info!) that HBO might be planning some sort of comprehensive announcement 'event' for the series if they choose to pick it up. Some footage may be too much to hope for, but they may also choose to launch the official website at the same time, maybe issue some publicity stills and unveil the official logo, maybe have people like actors or GRRM or the producers on hand for the announcement, maybe do a Q&A thing. If that is the case they will want to plan it out ahead of time.
That's the only reason why I can think that they might be so locked into a March announcement.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
I think people may be over estimating how important the announcement is — i.e., a Q and A — I would expect a Variety announcement with a few quotes. Where we'll really see the promotion (should it be picked up) is on HBO.
MichaelQuote Reply
I think the discrepancy in time-lines is due to the fact that pilots are generally watched without the full backup of stuff like music, and whatever goes into post-production. So the pilot watch in 2 weeks would be pretty bare bones, then they do post-production then they perhaps watch it again. still wouldn't expect anything until March.
The BoatQuote Reply
I get home from class and the first thing I read is this! Fan-freaking-tastic!
JillianQuote Reply
It depends on how they want to do it. IIRC, the announcements for ROME and BAND OF BROTHERS were big affairs, whilst TREME was much lower-key.
That said, the idea about the effects and them having multiple screenings may be more on the money.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
not variety but hollywood reporter
http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/hbo-games-of-thrones-dailies-look-fantastic.html
JillianQuote Reply
Sending good vibes to the executives ummmmmmm
ebleyesQuote Reply
F***ing hell!
"If all goes well, Lombardo said, "Game of Thrones" will be on HBO in spring 2011 — "March or April."
Normally I wouldn't say it, but CALLED IT! :-)
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
It's palette, Mr. Hibberd. Oh well, at least he didn't write 'palate'…
AoedeQuote Reply
And it looks like we got our Direwolf answer too.
Anyone know offhand how that budget compares to other HBO pilots?
JillianQuote Reply
Jillian: Depends on which end of that spectrum it falls.
$5 million isn't too bad. I think The Tudors is close to $4 mill an episode.
$10 million is high. The ultra-expensive Rome was around $8 million an episode.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
"I think people may be over estimating how important the announcement is — i.e., a Q and A — I would expect a Variety announcement with a few quotes. Where we'll really see the promotion (should it be picked up) is on HBO."
Normally I'd agree with you on that, but this show has got more pre-pick-up buzz than anything they've ever done (that's what we keep hearing from them, not my own estimate). I think they could well decide that they'd be better served making the announcement a big deal and get the ball rolling on the hype-machine early. For instance, the first posters and images for "Alice In Wonderland" started appearing a year before its release date.
BrudeQuote Reply
yea! so excited!
AnonymousQuote Reply
WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!
This is so freaking exciting!!
furreverQuote Reply
As well as the blog feed, THR also mentions it (briefly) in their regular news page. As they put it:
"HBO's fantasy pilot "Game of Thrones" is marching toward a series order"
Has a nice ring to it :)
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Adam did call the spring of 2011 for pickup.
It's looking good, people, it's looking good.
Best news all week!
About Yea HighQuote Reply
Here's the link to the THR article.
BrudeQuote Reply
WiC: You're comparing apples to oranges; pilots usually cost a LOT more than regular episodes. For example the Bablylon 5 pilot was $2 million, while each episode was about $800k-900 (depending on the season).
The pilot includes the cost of building sets and costumes, and producing CGI that would get reused in regular episodes (like the Direwolves), probably all the location scouting too.
If they spent as much as $10million on the pilot, I could see a regular episode costing $4m.
spacechampionQuote Reply
I guess its all but confirmed.
I dunno. But I would think he'd be more careful with his wording if it were "only" a high probability of a pick up. This seems more like a 99% kinda thing.
sjweningsQuote Reply
The director of programming has a major say in the project, but I think there's also higher-ups at HBO who have to be convinced as well.
@ Spacechampion, HBO pilots are usually more expensive but not a lot more expensive than the regular episodes (unlike say LOST, where the pilot was $12 million whilst regular episodes are $5 million). If the pilot is $10 million, I can see the regular episodes maybe being $6-$7 million, which is still a lot. If you consider they still have to build the Red Keep/King's Landing sets, which will be used a lot more than Winterfell's, you can see the regular episodes are still going to require a fairly hefty budget.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
I agree, I was just throwing out a "worst" case scenario. ("Worst" for HBO, since they obviously would like a smaller budget) Even if the pilot costs as much as $10m, if $6m of that is sets, costumes etc costs that can be amortized, they could squeeze the per episode cost down quite a bit, especially for a second season.
spacechampionQuote Reply
Costs for the Red Keep / King's Landing would definitely be accounted as amortized across the whole 12 episodes of the season, so it's effect on the per episode cost wouldn't really be that much.
spacechampionQuote Reply
I just knew today was going to be a newsworthy one! Even if its still just speculation, its about as high-quality as speculation can get without being official. Also, HBO execs take note, people other than the hardcore geeks that peruse this site are really starting to take notice!
P.S. Grats to Mr. Lombardo! From the brief interview we are treated to, I surmise that he "gets it" in reference to what makes ASoIaF great!
lordnedsheadQuote Reply
Lord Ned's severed head is right. I'm adding Lombardo to my holiday Wintergrasp card list. The most telling part for me was:
"The fantasy is so incidental, it has a very adult tone. You forget it's fantasy while you're watching it, and that's what I love about it."
The fact that he gets it is great. Add to that:
"The director got great performances. Unlike a lot of projects like this, everything was shot on location. It has such a rich texture that it looks more expensive than it actually was."
So much for the rumors that Tom McCarthy was on some sort of hot seat. Sounds like the makings of a home run.
If the HBO honchos get it, and McCarthy gets it, and we already know David Benioff and D.B. Weiss get it…
Ladies and gentlemarms, we have ourselves a show.
About Yea HighQuote Reply
What wonderful news to wake up to :D excited! Great everyone gets it.
MarkoQuote Reply
Could the reason for a wait til March be that they have to see other pilots for other potential shows, and won't decide which will be green-lit until they see 'em all?
JamesQuote Reply
It is great that the senior HBO people are making positive noises even before they have seen the pilot. I do think they could not really do otherwise though.
MatrimQuote Reply
@James – Probably not. Apparently HBO is not like to spend this much money on a project if it did not stand a better chance than most other pilots being made. Everyone seems to assume its all about whether or not it will be good that matters.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Awesome news… but the spring of 2011 is still sooo far away! :(
I want to see Sean Bean as Ned Stark NOW!
LexQuote Reply
What a lovely way to finish off the week! I'm feeling quite bouncy now!
Is it too early to be planning my trips to Doune and thinking of another moot in Belfast?! ;)
JacMac30Quote Reply
It's never too early …
SilverstarQuote Reply
Great news! Fingers crossed the execs like what they see.
I wonder why the dragon eggs will be CGI? I expected them to be props, maybe with some CGI effects when Dany starts heating them.
shinyteapotQuote Reply
Great news, WiC!
We already knew that some of the HBO professionals were reading the novels, but to have the president of programming hooked, too, is just awesome!
And as Adam wrote above, everything Mr Lombardo says about the tone and style of what he has seen so far, sounds very, very promising: It captures the appeal of Mr Martin's books and that's exactly what we hope for in this series.
By now I'm quite confident that we will get a "Game of Thrones" season in 2011.
Winter is, indeed, coming! :)
ghost-of-humeQuote Reply
For the pilot they shouldn't have much to add to the eggs… though I guess they could if they REALLY wanted them to be magical looking.
I'm curious the Others weren't mentioned for CGI. Likely an oversight. I'd think it hard to get the intended look from makeup alone.
About Yea HighQuote Reply
Just curious if anyone has seen the Siberian puppies from the pilot that are now for sale?
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/dogs/1025104
DanielQuote Reply
Nice if reliable :)
MarkoQuote Reply
Aw. Wonder if that was Grey Wind or Summer?
SilverstarQuote Reply
I've been checking periodically getting my updates and I post when I have something to contribute to the conversation and I think that this is AWESOME news …. Thanks WIC …. I need my GOT updates to keep me going … I know its 2010 but a year has a habit of going fast when ur waiting for something .. and this is sooo worth the wait … now with that news WIC I'm waiting for that next post when we are all speculating which actors should be cast … let me be the first to nominate Michael Wincott for Bronn
LadyNYC74Quote Reply
Awesome news! I definately don't want to get my hopes up but it is impossible not jump and scream out of excitement.
Great find Daniel on the pups, now we know how the wolves are going to look like!
KnurkQuote Reply
Really great news :)
gabalQuote Reply
Got a mention on Digital Spy too..
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/news/a196581/hbos-game-of-thrones-nears-pickup.html
Apparently I've heard that HBO were not too sure but then they saw the amazing performance of the Stark Servant during the sparring scene and immendiately decided to greenlight the project!
(or something…)
I keep imangining a classic 1930's theatre where the head shouts 'lights' which go out and the old style projector whirrs into life while the film makers sit nervously behind.
All they can see is the back of the head's, er, head while the smoke from his cigar mingles with the projector light. Then, after the show is over. the head shouts 'lights' again. When they come back on, he turns slowly to face the anxious movier makers behind.
'Boys' he says, 'I like it'
'You've got yourselves a deal'
Queue much celebration!
rimshot44Quote Reply
Maybe we'll have Dance to read between now and then. Hey a guy can dream, right?
dizzyQuote Reply
I'm curious the Others weren't mentioned for CGI. Likely an oversight. I'd think it hard to get the intended look from makeup alone.
I suspect we aren't going to get a really good look at the Others in the pilot. We may not see them in all their frozen glory until the Battle at the Fist of the First Men.
k26dpQuote Reply
I like that scenario, rimshot. x3
LaurenQuote Reply
The only negative I see is that the child actors (now already on the brink of being too old) will have grown even more till 2011…..let alone a possible Season 2 or 3…
With this long of a production phase they should have cast the children younger knowing that once they really start, they will have just the right age.
And I still remember how silly it looks when you compare episode 1 and 2 of the sopranos in terms of AJs look…
little_big_manQuote Reply
The Budget from the Boardwalk Empire Pilot is a lot higher, it seems…
http://www.vattal.com/scorsese-spending-big-for-small-screen-project/
TzuQuote Reply
HUGE!
brhodesQuote Reply
little_big_man: They will probably film the first season this summer, meaning an 8 month gap between the pilot and the rest of the episodes. Yes, kids grow fast, but I don't think that will be too bad. Plus they could always reshoot any scenes from the pilot featuring the children if they've matured too much.
Tzu: Wow, $50 million? That seems like a bit of an exaggeration. Although I know they built a huge set for just the pilot, so it is possible they spent more on Empire's pilot than Thrones'. I don't think it was $40 million more though.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
So excited right now. Been ill the last few days and this is certainly helping me to feel better :)
ninepennyQuote Reply
@Daniel, not so sure about that, the dogs I saw used were Inuits not Siberian Huskies
salesQuote Reply
@ Rimshot: That's a bit like the situation with the two-movie version of THE LORD OF THE RINGS after Miramax dumped it but gave Jackson four weeks to find a new partner studio. Peter Jackson showed Bob Shaye from New Line a load of test footage, CGI tests, model shots and so on and after the lights came up Shaye sat there completely stoney-faced and Jackson couldn't work out what he was thnking. Shaye then said, "Why on earth would anyone make two movies out of this story?" which gave Jackson a heart attack before he said, "Come on Peter, this is THREE films!" :-)
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Awesome news but I can't say I'm surprised. I've been 100% positive that shit show was getting picked up since shooting wrapped.
sven20Quote Reply
I wonder what the promotional events will be after the official announcement (optimistically assuming good news). When are Comicon and that sort of thing?
Dennis BrennanQuote Reply
I just noticed the puppy adoption ad on another forum and had never seen it while browsing this thread. The ad seems legit enough but could be fake or something. I have no idea if the puppy is indeed the one used in our game of thrones, although it does strike a resemblance with the dead mother prop.
Game of Thrones is gonna happen! I hope that HBO sees potential in the pilot and in the huge buzz surrounding the project.
DanielQuote Reply
Man, awesome news!
The craziest thing is that out of all the news and tidbits we've gotten over the last year, there has never really been any negative news or reasons to doubt. EVERYTHING has apparently gone amazingly and pointed towards a pick-up from the first casting announcement(ahem, Dinklage).
The show is definitely in the right hands, with the right studio backing it, with the right actors, and with the right timing, etc. Not only does this mean we will be watching it in just over a year, but that the final product that we will be watching will be just about as damn good as it could be.
*hopefully* :)
ChrisQuote Reply
While a fall start (just for the feel of "winter is coming") would have been neat, this is really making my day, week, month..you get it. Spring 2011, wow. Don't worry HBO, I'm already subscribing to HBO Canada…please feel free to contact me should you need Canadian fans of the book to pre-screen! :D
Kelsey CatherineQuote Reply
love the news….but what are 'Dailies'?…..I have no idea lol….this show will be picked up and will be the highest rated and most award winning show in television history …get ready go move over 'Mad Men' !
coltaine777Quote Reply
OMG!!! I peed my pants!
JimQuote Reply
Coltaine777:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dailies
phillymosQuote Reply
@Phillymos….thankyou….now I know !
coltaine777Quote Reply
somebody please tell me HBO isn't stupid enough to release Game of Thrones who's tagline definitely should be "winter is coming" in SPRING? that would just be about the most retarded thing ever. if it does not come out in the winter of 2011 then i would be shocked and appalled at the lack of savvy and timing on their part … and i have no doubt that if it gets green lit at the end of march that it can easily be ready for the begining of January 2011.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Wow, I guess the news couldn't be any better at this point. Seems all that could go wrong now would be the other potential pickups appear to be more profitable. But how could that happen when the buzz for Thrones is as good as it is, while the other projects are relativly obscure?
Besides, if they all happen to look promissing, there's also the option to push the production of some of 'em back. Sooner or later, HBO will be in need of new content anyway…
DunkeltrollQuote Reply
Jacopo, relaaaaax.
Are you seriously kneejerking the tagline?
Sheesh.
"Winter is coming" is not necessarily going to be the tagline. I actually prefer "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die."
Besides, it would be better to sell "Winter is Coming… spring of 2011." than "Winter is Coming… this winter."
Winter coming in winter isn't news to anyone. I can imagine the talk shows teeing off on that.
"Hm, winter is coming in winter. Thanks, HBO."
About Yea HighQuote Reply
Ahhhh but what you are all forgetting is that Spring 2011, when the show is apparently going to premiere, will actually be Fall here in the Southern Hemisphere (or Autumn as we call it) and therefore Winter truly will be coming…
AriQuote Reply
It's not exactly "winter" yet when the show begins, so it's actually appropriate. That said, tagline matters so very little.
saluk64007Quote Reply
The great thing about winters is, you get older, but they keep coming and coming.
DaveyQuote Reply
Rumor is the HBO pilot for Boardwalk Empire cost $50 million ( http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?entry_id=55375 ) – and this is a series that actually got picked up… So I don't think a $5-$10 million per first episode is what will get them worried.
MichalQuote Reply
Actually if they have high hopes for the show then they will start it in february since that is when sweeps occur. Same reason Lost is not premiering in January this year.
RobertQuote Reply