It’s official! James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter breaks the news that HBO has officially greenlighted Game of Thrones.
Winter is, indeed, coming.
HBO has greenlighted highly anticipated fantasy series “Game of Thrones.”
The premium network has picked up the project for a first season debut next spring (below is the first released photo from the series). Nine episodes plus the pilot have been ordered. Production will begin in Belfast this June.
From the moment the project was first announced in development, the series based on the George R.R. Martin novels has generated enormous, perhaps unprecedented, online interest for a series at such an early stage.
The sprawling tale set in the mythical land of Westeros tells the story of the noble Stark family who become caught up in high court intrigue when patriarch Eddard (played by Sean Bean) becomes the king’s new right-hand man. The four-and-counting books in the series would each be used as one season of the series.
Unlike many fantasy novels, the “Thrones” series largely avoids relying on magical elements and instead goes for brutal realism — think “Sopranos” with swords. Martin, a former TV writer (“Beauty and the Beast”), writes each chapter as a cliffhanger, which should lend itself well to series translation.
Winter Is Coming: Well it was not unexpected, but this is still exciting news! The day we’ve waited months for has finally come! Now we know for sure that we will be able to see at least 10 episodes of this wonderful book series on the small screen. As Lombardo mentioned a while back, HBO is targeting a spring release. The next year should fly by though as we anticipate the rest of the casting announcements, the filming of the first season, then the trailer, interviews, commericals and red carpet premieres. I can’t wait. For now I’m just loving the fact that this thing is official. Oh and HBO gave the fans a little present and released the first promotional image! Winter is coming to HBO, for real this time!
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150 Comments
Now we just have to wait for another year!
VohdreQuote Reply
YES! This is great news! We've all been waiting so long and finally it's greenlit!
@engessaQuote Reply
Awwwwwesome!
TedQuote Reply
"Winter is, indeed, coming."
YAYYYY!
ther1ngQuote Reply
can't wait to see more pictures!
nicoleQuote Reply
Amazing news! Congratulations to everyone!
John EngedalQuote Reply
amazing!
@sallyarmstrongQuote Reply
I think we shoud remove our party on this thread :)
No speculations today, please!
It is celebration day!
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
So stoked. Going to be so fun to see it play out!
Keith RobinsonQuote Reply
Hurray!!!!!!
SwordpenQuote Reply
I can’t wait! I’ll be ordering HBO especially to watch ASoIaF :D
CaitrinQuote Reply
*Celebrate good times, Come on!*
Cheers all!
Phoenix_tornQuote Reply
Sourcenator? What say you?
dizzy34Quote Reply
*celebrates*
MauberlyQuote Reply
Hibberd got there before me. :) Rats. Congratulations guys!
Now let's look forward to all the casting details I can spill…
Michael SourcenatorQuote Reply
As George would say, "life is magical and full of joy!!"
BlueQuote Reply
Laize le bon temp roule!
brhodesQuote Reply
By the way, that Night's Watch picture is awesome.
Michael SourcenatorQuote Reply
All that praying in my fake weirdswood worked!!!
Hehehehe!
WOOT WOOT
KelseyCatherineQuote Reply
hells friggin yeah! ive been waiting almost 10 years for this to become HBO…ive always known the series was too large for film, but too heavy for regular cable…damn friggin right. soooo stoked
georgeQuote Reply
W00t.
Let's have casting threads for Renly and Varys next.
Dennis BrennanQuote Reply
This is amazing! I can't wait. FINALLY…
Now just to wait a year. :)
@bluecanaryQuote Reply
omg, so cute! I am so happy for them
nicoleQuote Reply
Yeah, the Stark kids are estatic, too!
It is fanatastic to see them so happy.
And our dear George, I think he is the happiest of us all.
Damn it, the MAN deserved it!
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
it will be interesting to see how true they're able to stay to the books…its only 10 episode season =S theres a lot of intrigue and … all that good stuff?
although, the book is in fact longer, and the episodes should be able to tell it because the book would translate differently on screen? oh man…my brain is mush with teh news and the picture of the nights waatch (wouldve expected a black horse though), ugh
holyeffhbotookitQuote Reply
yes, the first thing I noticed is how odd that white horse looks.
AlanQuote Reply
YES!!!
brewinQuote Reply
My week has just been made.
@nickdenningQuote Reply
*celebrates some more* \\^o^/
LaurenQuote Reply
WOOOOOOOO!!!
TempestBrewerQuote Reply
Fantastic news! Also what a great picture, it also just occured to me that the still is the very beginning of series, I mean the very first thing we'll actually see when the show airs! Also to clear up any confusion on who the night watch's rider is it is Will.
From the pilot script:
'EXT. CLEARING – DAY
Snow drifts across the bodies of the fallen dead. Eight corpses lie frozen on the ground– men, women, and children, wearing heavy furs. The wind whips through their long hair.
At the edge of the clearing, WILL (20), a young ranger dressed all in black, surveys the grim scene from the back of his gelding. He gathers his reins and guides his horse south.'
AbstractPlainQuote Reply
I ordered it yesterday. :D
LaurenQuote Reply
WooHoo! Great news!
gabalQuote Reply
Finally!!!
StuQuote Reply
Happy days are here again.
ButterbumpsQuote Reply
Interesting that the press release HBO sent (which you can see here: http://scifiwire.com/2010/03/hbo-says-yes-to-game… did not include Jason Momoa, Ron Donachie, and Donald Sumpter among the "pilot cast series regulars" but instead under "also featuring". What's that all about?
furreverQuote Reply
why can't Will have a white horse? wow, you guys are already sweating minor details…
AryamanQuote Reply
Above link is broken: http://scifiwire.com/2010/03/hbo-says-yes-to-game…
furreverQuote Reply
YYYYYEEEEEEEESSSSSS!
Brian BaldingerQuote Reply
I just ordered HBO two days ago, but that was for Treme, The Pacific and Boardwalk Empire, all coming up soon. Should be well worth it!
Once those are over, I might switch it off until GoT comes on – we'll see. With two in the apartment, $7.50/mo each isn't likely to break either of us.
BrudeQuote Reply
I went back to lurkin state for a long long time but I'm so happy that I had to come back. I still can't believe it though, it's just one of the things that you dream for so long that seems that itcan't be true. Now, if someone could convince Christopher Tolkien to license the movie rights to the Silmarillion, I could die happy.
Cristian ModestoQuote Reply
Thank you thank you thank you cast, crew, writers, creators, and suits for making this happen!!! I AM SETTING MY DVR RIGHT NOW
@wabawangaQuote Reply
GREAT, GREAT NEWS!!! SO HAPPY!!!
B'TashQuote Reply
YES.
Hopefully we get some new cast info within a week or two :
1. The world class thespian who was cast, then cut (Pycelle, most likely)
2. Perhaps a few people they've had their eye on from auditions (Such as Conan Stevens)
DemokritosQuote Reply
Yesss.
/Megatron http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2t4MBhGAg8
ShukunQuote Reply
its not that theres a problem with the horse being white, i just would have figured that the nights watch, being all black, would have black horses.
holyeffhbotookitQuote Reply
Twitter is blowing up right now with Thrones tweets. Wonder if we can make it a trending topic? Retweet people, retweet!
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Woohoo!
TholalQuote Reply
Fantastic News!!!! We all knew it was coming down but its such a relief to see it in black and white!
Hey D&D! Any chance you can give the devoted WiC family a scoop or three about what to expect as far as upcoming production news?
Congrats George!
Lord Ned's HeadQuote Reply
So happy and excited!
Thank you HBO!
LavenderAQuote Reply
Best news all year!
JakubQuote Reply
the nights watch, being poor destitute and nearly forgotten takes whatever horses it can get and thanks the seven if they get to ride them and don't have to eat them.
only waymar royce wanted to look "cool" and "fadishly all black" … look where that got him! ;)
Who Is Jacopo BelboQuote Reply
1. I think Roy Dotrice is the "master thespian" GRRM was referring to when he discussed the situation with Pycelle being cut from the pilot (it's possible this scene will yet be filmed and cut back into the pilot – it made sense as a money saving move for shooting the pilot, though).
2. I hope Conan is Gregor. A lot of speculation involved in that one, reading between the lines of what Stevens himself said, but I think it's highly likely.
BrudeQuote Reply
YES!!!
NinepennyQuote Reply
YES YES YES!!!!!!!!
I was already having a pretty good day when I checked my RSSnewsfeeds (obviously WIC is on top) after arriving home late at night.
Now I am really extatic and even a bit emotional. Should I be worried that this news has so much impact on me? (should I get a life?) or… should I be happy that I can be excited as a child about something like this?
I just choose to be happy :)
Congrats to everyone, GRRMartin, the cast, the crew, HBO, WiC and all the visitors, regulars, lurkers and even the trolls.
Now I am going to do a (not so little) happy dance (and maybe drink a little).
DahnQuote Reply
Adding to the long line of: YES!
Ten episodes is certainly doable, as twelve was a struggle. I'm curious what they'll cut, and if it will streamline the story to actually make a superior tale even better.
About Yea HighQuote Reply
booooyaaaaa. Celebration time ladies and gents !!! :)
ptzQuote Reply
Been a lurker since the very beginning of this blog. This news is too awesome not to comment on. So happy! and what a great picture to release as well!
NovaHoosierQuote Reply
Great news indeed! :)))))))))) HBO, you've made a good choice!
mtomaskyQuote Reply
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! So happy!! ^___^
AureaQuote Reply
Just want to add that I don't understand all these posts with ppl saying "Ha, Mr. Sourcenator looks like you were WRONG!"
In his original comments, he never said HBO was not going to pick up the series. He didn't come on hear and mock the fans and tell us all we were idiots and HBO hated it. He just said something that was less than 100 percent positive and people freaked. Nerds love a chance to act indignant.
Provided, of course, that his connection to the series is real and not mere fiction.
Frank JohnsonQuote Reply
Oh correct spelling and proper usage, you are an elusive and slippery beast.
Frank JohnsonQuote Reply
I need to go ahead and add my whoohoo to the official greenlight thread. . . . . . . . Whooooooo Hoooooo!!!!!!
ClangleeQuote Reply
HODOR!!!!!!!! HODOR, HODOR, HODOR!!!
the goatQuote Reply
TV series have several 'types' of actor, including 'regular castmembers', 'guest performers' and 'recurring characters'. Those lines have become blurred in recent years through shows like THE WIRE and LOST, where it is not unusual even for major, starring characters to vanish for 2-3 weeks in a row, which would have been unthinkable twenty years ago. GoT suffers from this even more, as it doesn't even have the regular, recurring primary antagonists of those shows who do make it into most episodes (in THE WIRE's case McNulty or in LOST's case Jack).
In this case, HBO have obviously classified Drogo, Rodrik and Luwin as 'recurring characters', not regulars, even though they appear almost as frequently (in fact, given the first two Dany chapters have been combined into the pilot, Drogo should appear almost in every single Dany scene in the series). This has a bearing and impact on pay as well, I believe.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Just another……..HELLLL YEAH! I'll bet Martin is in danger of a coronary at this moment. heh heh
Casey J. PeterQuote Reply
A GREAT BIG LURKER HOORAY!!!! now back to lurking
SharpeyQuote Reply
I have been a lurker for a long time now. But this has made me post to say HELLS YES!!!!! I am so happy! This series has the potential to be more epic in scope and production than Rome. Go Game of Thrones!!
axia777Quote Reply
HELL YA! FINALLY!!
CygnusQuote Reply
Cant wait for more news and reactions from the cast. So happy right now ohh man.. Woo spread the word!
DanielQuote Reply
Thanks! We were discussing that in the other thread and I was hoping someone who read the script could enlighten us.
NymeriaQuote Reply
One more lurker coming coming out of the haunted forest to sound the horns of hoorah!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't believe this day has finally come. Congrats to Mr. Martin and the two D's. And Congrats too all the fans for voicing their opinions and giving a lot of buzz to this future show!
Jake SQuote Reply
Very, Very, Happy News
MyriLQuote Reply
Still buzzing. Had a strange gut feeling this morning and checked for news. Two minutes earlier, that Hollywood Reporter article hit Google News with the first word. Scary, but very awesome to be able to post it here. :)
JarpQuote Reply
I would think that the horses for the night's watch are like everything else they possess, including the men – they take what they can get!
inertiamanQuote Reply
Fantastic news!!! This has totally made my day. :)
meggyoQuote Reply
Christmas is, indeed, coming early.
Goose bumps thinking of finally be able to see my favourite books on the screen. This will be the most awesome thing ever!
regisfrostQuote Reply
Best day of this year so far.
MasonQuote Reply
not really sure if they'll manage to fit season 1 in just 10 episodes but i guess plot trimming was inevitable.
Josh.JQuote Reply
+1 lurker says “Yay!!!”. It is a joyous day indeed! :)
ArjunQuote Reply
I'm curious/thoughtful about the 10 eps too. Not that it's bad, just that I'd always assumed 12. Now I have to reconfigure in my supernerd head how they're going to cut the book into 10 segments……. I'm sure it'll work out fine.
Time to go the bookshelf and give Game of Thrones another read, so I can ponder all the glorious details that I'll be seeing next year.
Woohoo!!
Steve BQuote Reply
Can't believe nobody posted this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs&fe…
TylerQuote Reply
Great news, and kudos to HBO!
Thank you for your coverage, Winter Is Coming – keep it up! Seems like there are some more years of exciting rumours ahead… ;)
@HerrFickQuote Reply
Of course, then I actually looked up the eps counts from a whole bunch of HBO shows, and saw how random and various they are. I suppose 12 is pseudonormal for them, but they range anywhere from 8 (for OZ), to 10 (second season of Rome and the last season of the Wire), to 12 (True Blood, and many others), to 13 (Sopranos, etc.), to 16 (one season of Oz), to 21 (last season of Sopranos, cut into 2 parts), to something in the 30's for In Treatment, as 1/2hr eps…..
So it really is all over the place. Therefore, I'm assuming they picked 10 eps because they thought it was the right amount for the story to be told in.
Steve BQuote Reply
I don't believe how happy this makes me feel. I have to share this with my friends. Woohoo! :3
ArgowolfQuote Reply
So very HAPPY!!!!
@CookieintheboxQuote Reply
I love the twitter reaction from our trio of Stark kids.
Congrats Issac, Maisie, and Sophie–it's going to be epic!
Phoenix_tornQuote Reply
They picked 10 because the writers showed them the outlines for 10 scripts, into which the story fit just right [speculation].
pualoQuote Reply
ORGASM!!!
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
Somewhat of a lurker, posted a few times on the old blog…but I too must post to say HOW AWESOME IS THIS? For years I've imagined an HBO show based on the series, and it's finally happening!
ThanatosAngelQuote Reply
Another lurker here. Absolutly wonderful news!! Been checking this site almost daily for months and its such a relief to finally see the title we've all been waiting for.
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
The Lion of Lannister says yay!
@alicelouise58Quote Reply
Great news!
JohnQuote Reply
Made my day! I haven't even actually read beyond the title yet, totally awesome, and great for George to get it!
Tyler MetcalfeQuote Reply
Another lurker +n. Great news! I can't believe it, it is finally happening. Waiter, another scotch please…
fasobgQuote Reply
WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Extremely happy this got picked up, can't wait to see my favorite book series on TV
Mike MiazgowiczQuote Reply
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES! YES! YES! WOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!
Living in Vancouver, I was suffering post-Olympic blues (the games ended Sunday). This was exactly what I needed! I just danced around the house for 10 minutes.
LexQuote Reply
Thanks for the explanation!
furreverQuote Reply
I don't remember reading that the night's watch has only black horses. They don't have the money for that kind of thing. They would have a variety of colors just like everyone else. Realistic :)
pualoQuote Reply
I don't remember reading that the night's watch has only black horses. They don't have the money for that kind of thing. They would have a variety of colors just like everyone else. Realistic :)
pualoQuote Reply
Whoo hoo, finally!
Now to decide to see how HBO will display the show via the UK, what channel will have the lucky rights? Oh bugger it, I'll just fly to America once a week, better than watching an online stream!
Anymore news, I'll let you guys know!
BelfasterQuote Reply
K'ching!! Awesome news.
This makes me so happy I could almost forget my headache !!!
Now just have to wait one more year for the series, but we can perhaps enjoy some nice teasers until then and a lot of debates on casting
TremereQuote Reply
This is great news that makes me more happy, congratulations George :D.
LoisQuote Reply
now i gotta figure out how much HBO is gonna cost me.
w00000t!
Wyatt DornQuote Reply
I think they have a partnership with the BBC on it, similar to what they did with ROME.
Nathan OliverQuote Reply
FUCK YES!
Ser_NAQuote Reply
What a great way of starting the day. I woke up, turned my PC on, routinely opened WiC and then this. I'll continue waiting for Dance and whole season tomorrow, today I rest, and celebrate.
Филип ПаушићQuote Reply
Very great to wake up to this wonderful news! I'm excited and over the moon. Hoping for a great season!!
@aworldinwordsQuote Reply
I feel like Grand Moff Tarkin when the Death Star finally exploded….relief!!!
What an awesome, momentous day this is. What a fantastic year this will be as news,pics,trailers, official websites, broadcast dates etc begin to appear. How cool is that image? (although they could have use one with me in it!!). I think I know that guy impaled to the tree!
You guys have shown remarkable patience, hope, determination and optimism and I have no doubt that you all contributed to getting this greenlit.
Well done to the WIC family.
Now…I have three months of mobile phone staring ahead of me!!
Roll on June!!!!
Rimshot44Quote Reply
What a day indeed! Cheers mates!
DunkeltrollQuote Reply
Yuuhuuu!! Can't wait.
MarianQuote Reply
Rimshot, have you finished the first book yet?
About Yea HighQuote Reply
I'm disappointed, WiC! What I expected was at least a post headline in ALL CAPS! :D :D :D
Celebration continues!
Marko HladnikQuote Reply
I contributed to the buzz a little by writing a news item for the German games site Gamers Global. After all, computer games based on aSoIaF are also under development (and planned for release in summer 2011).
DunkeltrollQuote Reply
*continues to do the Happy Dance* :D
The Winter RoseQuote Reply
To quote a poster on IMDB when Dinklage was cast:
"The sound you hear is the entire fanbase pissing themselves"
Feeling so GOOD!
TPFKA Thoros of MyrQuote Reply
Woo hoo! Mostly a lurker, just adding my voice as an excited fan!
MikeQuote Reply
I'm afraid not. I got very busy and left the book for a long while (just at the tourney) but I'm back at it now and will have it finished soon I promise!!
Rimshot44Quote Reply
no problem. I hope to be able to regail you with more tales from the set if the phone would just ring soon…
Rimshot44Quote Reply
I called him a troll back when he started, and I stick to it. The fact is, if they were re-editing the pilot before they made their decision, and they were alarmed as Michael (then Michael Sourcenator) claims, then I don't think we'd have this news yet. This and all of the other suspicious actions points to troll, IMO.
No point in arguing about it though, troll or not he was wrong and if he is what he claims to be, then this news is good for him too.
Gregory KeltonQuote Reply
we're crossing our fingers!
NymeriaQuote Reply
This is completely amazing!!!!!! And weird also – right before i turned on this blog today, i had an image of new greenlit post here on WiC with big header called "Winter has come". And few second later it turned out to be true (except the header) :-)
What a great day!!!!!!! Yeeeeeeeees!!
MoldaQuote Reply
I believe I've never been as happy as I'm now!! I almost cried when I read the post!!
Kissed by FireQuote Reply
Wooohooo! So happy to hear the news.
I woke up yesterday and won an auction I really wanted for a great deal, got paid for a bunch of stuff sold, had a good productive day at work and my day ended with finding out that GOT has been picked up. Best day ever in a long time!!!
I'm in Scotland at the end of June, I'm praying they'll be filming at Doune Castle while I'm there. That would be an ultimate dream come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RayQuote Reply
Yes, wondering about that myself … impressions? Thanks for sharing your experience, especially the part concerning your extra-ordinary work ;)
Marko HladnikQuote Reply
A little disappointed that it's only 10 episodes. I was hoping for atleast thirteen.
Jarred MelanconQuote Reply
The thing with 10 eps is little bit sad, but maybe they will be longer? Perhaps 60-80 minutes each?
MoldaQuote Reply
It's on Digg's front page :D
KeesQuote Reply
And now nearly 500 pageviews in 5 or 6 hours. As a contributor, I can watch how "hot" a news item is, and right now this ranks second after the (fake) bid of 800.000 Dollars for a rare NES game…
DunkeltrollQuote Reply
I'm so happy I wanna cry!!!!!
Thanks, WiC, thanks HBO, thanks all people involving the pilot, and my thanks of course to George Martin!
MartaQuote Reply
Congratulations to George and all of us for this waiting to succeed!
This was a good one! Let's rejoice everybody for another year of great expectations :-))
texdionisQuote Reply
Great! Will the pilot be airing before the rest of the show is filmed? I mean "this year"?
(Please excuse my bad english…)
PerrinQuote Reply
That's very unlikely. Maybe HBO will decide to broadcast the pilot in advance to promote the series, but they didn't do that (as far as I know) for any other show.
DunkeltrollQuote Reply
The odds are pretty slim. Unless they decide to sell it on DVD before season start like they did for True Blood…
NymeriaQuote Reply
The thing that bothers me about the picture, assuming it is the prologue, is that I pictured the dead in a more open area with a camp rather than scattered in the woods. I'm not sure about the horse. It's color doesn't really bother me.
ToddQuote Reply
can not wait!
ESKellyQuote Reply
If been debating about modifing my cable package, but know i think i'll leave well enough alone …. this is awesome news!!!!!! … cant wait
Marilyn BonesQuote Reply
YAAAAAAAAY late to the party guys but i have to say too: YES YES YES FUCKING YEEEES and congrats to all the people involved in this project, mr martin, hbo , the wic family and of course wic himself!!!
JehphgQuote Reply
Jubilant.
DMasterQuote Reply
YES, YES, YES!!!! Finally, after soo many years of following every bit of news about this project, it is amazing to finally see this come to fruition and become reality!!!!!!!! This year just got so much better. I will subscribe to HBO as soon as ASOIF gets rolling!
I hope and pray that HBO makes a true committement and sticks with ASOIF for the duration. Nevertheless this is wonderful, wonderful news! I'll go out and celebrate and get drunk as hell!!!!
loco73Quote Reply
Oh my god thank you for posting this, it made my day! I CAN'T WAIT!!!! :D
@DragonStargazerQuote Reply
Ahh I swear to god I'll hide under someone's desk for a week at hbo for a few scenes of leaked pilot!
FinallyQuote Reply
hope that pilot leaks soon =)
albertQuote Reply
YES! You won't be sorry HBO!!!
dholdsQuote Reply
I expected bigger buzz when we get greenligth. To be precise, i've expected hundreds of comments, but reality is very "quiet" :)) That's little bit disturbing, this is most important thing for us in long time, but fan activity is not that big as it was some time before
MoldaQuote Reply
It's big enough.
I don't think we've lost many fans, to say the least… The reason why there hasn't been a total storm of messages is probably because many might feel theres no reason to add another "WEEEE!!" It's been greenlighted. It's actually not that much to say about it.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Happy, happy, happy. When I saw my dream coming true I realized I'm one sick obsessed girl. To hell with it, can we buy some time machine? I need to go to the year 2011. :)
@starkblueroseQuote Reply
Trying to forecast the ratings and/or audience for the show…
AGOT book sold 3.5 millions copies in the USA. Assuming that 3.5 millions (or 4 to be optimistic) are going to watch the show, is this going to be a good result? I don't know how to calculate the ratings given these terms. If any is able to provide a good esteem, he's welcome
texdionisQuote Reply
I agree. I've been following this blog since I found out who they cast for Tyrion, but this is the first time I've commented here. Sometimes, there's a lot to say, other times, not so much.
@DragonStargazerQuote Reply
Thank you HBO….and we hope to more seasons
Theodor StathisQuote Reply
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