At HBO’s summer Television Critics Association presentation the Game of Thrones teaser was shown and the execs talked briefly about the series. Most importantly, HBO reaffirmed their desire to launch the series in Spring 2011. Possibly as early as March!
Some comments on the series from the execs as reported by James Hibberd:
“It’s a genre we’ve approached somewhat cautiously,” said Michael Lombardo, programming president. “We have two writers … who are so smart and so talented. Neither of us are particularly fans of the genre. It was such enormously compelling reading. It wasn’t the genre we responded to it was the storytelling.”
“It’s really about power,” added Richard Plepler, co-president. “And that’s a theme which has resonated throughout history. You’ll forget where you are very quickly and will find yourself immersed in the storytelling.”
Both executives noted that the show’s intense online fandom is helpful for growing an audience … yet also adds pressure.
“It’s a ravenous audience,” Lombardo said. “You have to get it right. Those fans are waiting. They’ve set a bar that, if you do it, you have to do it right.”
Winter Is Coming: So they’re still sticking with that spring 2011 premiere? Have to admit, I’m a bit surprised, although thrilled. I guess the pilot reshoots really aren’t going to be an issue. Also it’s cool to hear HBO’s thoughts on the series. The part about being on the cover of Rolling Stone is just awesome to think about. Can you imagine standing in line at the grocery store and seeing Jaime, Cersei and Tyrion staring back at you? Surreal. But so exciting!
UPDATE: Hibberd had originally reported that Richard Plepler mentioned that Game of Thrones was going to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. HBO has since clarified saying that Plepler was talking about True Blood when he mentioned the Rolling Stone cover story. No plans for Thrones to be on the mag’s cover, not yet anyway.
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42 Comments
SWEET!!!!!! :D
alan777Quote Reply
March looks a little bit too optimistic, IMO.
But we ll see.
I hope it woud be March – it is only 8 months from now.
The RabbitQuote Reply
Cool ! I wanna see the short clip, right now please !!
AllanerikQuote Reply
Allanerik,
It is probably a teaser we saw, or maybe only the parts of it.
The RabbitQuote Reply
*fangasm!* What they say about the story-telling is so true. March would be NICE.
I always wonder why execs fear this type of project. Aren’t there enough political/fantasy/romance/psychological-thriller/historical-fiction/intrigue/horror fans out there for this to succeed?!
reedgirlQuote Reply
From the sound of things most of what was shown will likely not even make it into the actual show (I actually hope this is the case; If you are going to reshoot do it right and add the missing cast members into the Feast scene, wedding scene, ect.
What I would really like to see sometime before release (read either the premier or finale of Boardwalk Empire) of the show is a sneak preview scene. I was originally in favor of the Prologue scene but with GRRM’s comments about redoing it to make it even better than the original scene I am inclined to think that this scene may best be left to GoT premier. The finding of the wolf pups would be a nice scene to show viewers (old and new alike). It gives a pretty good flavor of the series without giving away and drama (as the prologue scene might) or secrets. Any other pics for a one-scene preview?
Lord Ned’s HeadQuote Reply
I appreciate that they ‘get’ that the fanbase is really tied into this project and sound like they want to do it right!
QueenBQuote Reply
You heard it guys, we’ve set the bar high!!
KnurkQuote Reply
Lord Ned’s Head,
How about when Ned is beheading Gared? I feel like either would give the right kind of feel. It could be everything leading up to when the sword falls and then black? Obviously I have no idea how they filmed it, though that scene could be good for setting the mood of the show.
I think this was mentioned before, but I’ll bring it up again I guess. The scene when King Robert is coming into winterfell with his entourage with the Lannister siblings, they wouldn’t need any of the lines. They could even use the same music as the teaser.
SyleonQuote Reply
I just finished reading the first three books in the series and I’m now on Feast for Crows. I really wish Dance w/Dragons would get released soon!! And I am so looking forward to Spring 2011! This series looks like it’s gonna be awesome. :)
Sandy BranchQuote Reply
“Plepler also revealed that “Thrones” is going to be on the cover of Rolling Stone”
I wonder when this will be. The month the show first airs? The month before that? Wonderful news regardless, think of all the people who will be reading about Thrones that otherwise might not be exposed to it. Get that marketing machine warmed up HBO, Winter is Coming!!
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
grrm finished 8 whole characters story-lines
http://grrm.livejournal.com/171174.html
how much more do you think he’s got left? (aside from John which he said he’s not done with)
lgoellQuote Reply
I figure they are aiming for a March 20th or 27th series premiere date. True Blood usually airs mid June, so I figure they are targeting a June 12th airdate. Memorial weekend is May 28th-30th and they won’t want to air a new show that Sunday since many people will be on vacations. If HBO air the 1st season finale on May 22nd and you go back 10 weeks that takes you to March 20th for the GoT debut. If they air the season finale on June 5th, skip Memorial weekend, the series premiere would be March 27th. Any both cases that would enable HBO to stick to it’s normal mid June True Blood season debut.
TysnowQuote Reply
I find that bit about the RS cover hard to swallow. Can you really buy that they’d commit to a cover already? Based on what, it’s rabid online fandom? Yes we’re kind of insanely interested, but let’s not get carried away. I’d sooner believe that someone misinterpreted the original speaker’s intent and exaggerated it a bit when they wrote up their little article today.
MissQuote Reply
Miss,
My initial read on the comment was just that. Plepler wasn’t actually saying they have a cover story lined up, but that his feeling is that the show is going to be so big it may warrant a Rolling Stone cover story in the future. I left a comment on Hibberd’s blog asking for clarification, so we can know for sure.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
Even george says on his blog it’s wishful thinking.
KnurkQuote Reply
I too am rather surprised they’re still shooting for spring … though spring could technically mean early June. It could mean that they’ve all their ducks in a row and, barring any last-minute surprises, have production and post-production all mapped out ahead of time.
Of course, one never knows what might happen in the next few months. All these people we’ve been telling to break a leg—one of them could actually break a leg! Or something. Hopefully not. Odds are against!
So you never know. But I’m glad they’re confident, and I’m especially glad the script blew the big wigs away. It’s a testament to the original source (and GRRM’s writing), and hopefully means we’ll see as little change as possible.
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
Just received confirmation that Plepler was actually talking about True Blood when he referred to the Rolling Stones cover. At least that is the official word from HBO.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Thanks for the follow-up, WiC. It would have been cool to be on the cover, but we gotta stay real here. Baby steps! The news about the spring debut is exciting enough, IMO.
MissQuote Reply
Avalanche3319,
Ah, I think he was just meaning that he’s predicting the show will become so popular that Rolling Stones will even do an article on it. It doesn’t necessarily mean that one is in the works for promoting the series right now
GrinbombQuote Reply
Ah well, it was a nice thought. The way he’s quoted in the article (“Plepler also revealed that “Thrones” is going to be on the cover of Rolling Stone”) it sounds like a done deal.
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
The launch of the 3DS, my birthday and the start of Game of Thrones all in the same month? I would die of joy overload.
AshliQuote Reply
lgoell,
Somewhere around ten were planned.
http://iceandfire.wikia.com/wiki/A_Dance_with_Dragons#Viewpoint_characters
pualoQuote Reply
What “Rolling Stone” comment?
Rhiannon JungQuote Reply
Rhiannon Jung,
It’s now been deleted from Hibberd’s report.
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
Sandy Branch,
Glad you are liking the books but I would STRONGLY advise you from looking on most ASOIAF sites until you are done with AFFC. There are tons of spoilers. I know, trust me. I spoiled myself by looking up Darcy Mormont on wiki and didn’t like what I read. I’ll just leave it at that.
winterqueenQuote Reply
pualo,
10-11 were planned. But I think 12 ended up being confirmed. And then Aeron Damphair was dropped and another POV somehow related to the storyline in Meereen was added. Which would still leave us with 12. And then again George continued his trend of referring to his characters as Hanna Barbera characters (e.g. Fred, Barney) by calling one “Yogi” which might lead one to believe that Ser Jorah is either the added Meereen POV, or a 13th POV.
Anyway, since 8 are completed, I’d guess there are at least 4 left (12 total); 5 (13 total) seems like a possibility; after all each book has contained more POVs than the one before: Not counting prologues/epilogues there were 8 POVs in AGOT, 9 in ACOK, 10 in ASOS, and 12 in AFFC.
A Dream of (a) Spring 2011 premiere for the TV series sounds a bit too good to be true. I’ll be studying for my board exams then but I’ll have to set some time aside for AGOT I guess.
Maximum TacoQuote Reply
Cool story. Glad to hear that they’re trying to “do it right”, but I also wonder about the tone of caution and pressure and fear. I would like to hear a bit more confidence from the execs. I guess we’re pretty intimidating… :)
Also, GRRM’s blog update is one of the best ones in a long time. Good news, and more specific than usual. If he’s completed 8 character POVs, I’d say he has about 3 or 4 left to finish up.
LexQuote Reply
Did they mention March or your statement is based on the thing they said like 6 months away? I mean, it’s boggling me. As far as I know HBO only play shows on Sunday (probably except In Treatment which airs at Sundays and Mondays).
HBO has so many shows that I am not sure where they want to schedule all of it.
I am huge fan of David Milch’s work (created Deadwood and John from Cincinatti, plus NYPD Blue) and he is right now doing a new show for HBO which is going to be released at spring 2011 (the show is called Luck, main role played by Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte supporting cast). Recently I found a video where Milch was invited to do some lecture about writing at some university. So he said that HBO won’t be pleased with the thing he is going to do and he took out a pilot script for that show and read them. After all he said to them that the show is likely to premiere on HBO at April 2011.
Recently show got picked up but they didn’t reveal how many episodes it will have, but I thought that it would be nice to share with you. I think HBO will want to do with GoT same thing like True Blood. I mean sex, intrigues, big scenery, it’s a perfect thing for big scores. So I think they will want GoT as a 9 PM show, to be lead-in for Luck (tho, Dusty Hoffman is also nice catch for big numbers, but I am not sure if the plot will be for masses). Someone above me calculated the timing with True Blood, well I tell you this. Production on True Blood mostly was starting at early December, for season 4 they change it to January. Maybe True Blood will premiere at July.
nskQuote Reply
Do you think if you don’t have Sky you will be able to download it from Itunes or something similar?
CastilloQuote Reply
nsk, one exec specifically mentioned March 3rd, but the other kinda downplayed that statement and emphasized that it was officially still “spring.” It sounds like, internally at least, they’ve started to bat around ideas for exact dates and early March is where they are focusing.
Castillo, unfortunately not. HBO does have some shows on iTunes but they go on there around the same time the DVDs are released. The only way to watch the show as it airs, is to get a subscription to HBO (or Sky, if you’re in the UK).
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
Well I guess their strategy works – I’m going to have to get Sky!
CastilloQuote Reply
It would be fantastic if March 3rd stays as start date.
Better birthday present I can not imagine :)
Only to find a way to watch it…
The RabbitQuote Reply
Me Rabid Fan Demand Perfection.
It’s a mark of HBO that they find stories that transcend their genre, whatever it may be. I had absolutely no expectation of having any interest in Hung, for example: The hero is a former athlete, one of his adversaries is the nerd gone successful, and the entire premise seemed contrived, yet somehow it turns into compelling TV.
Granted, some of their critically acclaimed programing is still a miss for me (I still can’t stand In Treatment), for the most part, Sunday Night Programming is Must See TV on HBO. I think their big advantage is in the long form show, in that writers of HBO shows can write seasons at a time, rather than one shots and the occasional two parter. This is something Network TV has been unable to do for the most part (with notable, but rare exceptions like Lost).
Critical GeekQuote Reply
Hah, I just read it that Mr. Plepler said that they don’t make big deal with scheduling, they play shows when they are done, because they focus on rating like big picture (repeats, HBO on demand etc.), not only first airing.
So… that’s all about my juicy thinking :D.
@Lord Ned’s Head
I think they should leave all of the best parts for real screening (tho there will be like awesome scene every minute? :D). In Production thing will probably blow away people minds. Plus I don’t think that they can show some nudity and brutal thing in promos etc.
nskQuote Reply
Critical Geek,
How can you not like In Treatment and like Hung? Just kidding.
I love In Treatment and watch Hung, but Hung is mediocre.
Still, would pick Hung then same cop, doctor, lawyer crap at network.
nskQuote Reply
Couldn’t get into In Treatment here. My wife watched it religiously though. I’ve tried Hung but I can’t get into that much either. I do however love True Blood. Its a total guilty pleasure but hey, its doesn’t take itself too seriously and its ridiculously fun!
On a different topic, has anyone been watching Pillars? Now that we are four episodes in I’ll give some thoughts. First off it looks great! Kingsbridge is almost exactly how I pictured it. The costumes are also just about what I pictured in my head as I read the book. The acting is well done. McShane is doing a rather downplayed Waleran Bigod, but Rufus Sewell and Matthew MacFayden are handling Tom Builder and Prior Philip very well. It isn’t blowing me away but the cast is doing what the can with the material provided. Which brings me to the negatives. The dialogue is very clunky quite often over the course of an episode. It seems there could have been a few more drafts to punch up the script before they began filming. What’s worse are the contribed additions to the plot that come seemingly from nowhere to sensationalize the action.Events like the incest between Lady Hamley and her son or Waleran Bigod torturing Prior Philip never happen in the book. and the book is far better for it. One of the things about the book that was so wonderful was Follett’s ability to write about conflict among the characters without going overboard on the “OMG” factor for lack of a better term. That is completely lost in the translation and D&D would be wise to learn from the example (although from what we know D&D may already have this lesson firmly burned into their brains). Overall, Pillars is definately watchable, but somewhat disappointing in the adaptation of a Grade A book.
Lord Ned’s HeadQuote Reply
GRRM has cancelled his New York convention appearance. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, WiC, since you said you were going to go meet him. :(
http://grrm.livejournal.com/171556.html
LexQuote Reply
He’s also going to Australia for nearly a month (late August to late September) and then Ireland for a few weeks in late October.
In other words, I guess there will be nearly no progress on ADWD for the next two months. This is especially frustrating in light of the recent progress he’s been making.
Sigh…. :(
LexQuote Reply
Lord Ned’s Head,
I enjoy it more than you, but I haven’t read the book. Production is more than decent. Acting also good. All is down to the writer. One guy wrote it and his resume beside Pillars isn’t impressive.
nskQuote Reply
Lex,
Well that sucks. Not as much because I will be missing out on a chance to meet him (I’m sure there will be others) but more because it seems he is not going to finish the book within the next two weeks. I had hoped, in light of his recent progress posts, that he would get it done before leaving for Australia. Now it looks like it will be Nov before he gets a chance to really work on it again. :(
As far as NYCC goes, still holding out hope HBO does something to promote Game of Thrones there. Since they’ve reiterated their desire to premiere the show in spring of next year, it is really the only chance they will have to promote the show at a major con.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Link to Norwegian article
I’m a long-time lurker, and this is my first post here. I found an interview with Amrita Acharya playing “Irri” in a local newpaper today. She doesn’t really say much about GOT, as she mostly talks about how she’s been living in Tromsø almost all of her life, but has been unable to obtain Norwegian citizenship, and so has had to move to London. She now feels she doesn’t belong to any country.
Here’s what she says about GOT: “I have filmed only one episode so far, and still haven’t met Sean Bean. He’s in a different story-line than I am, which is filmed mainly in Ireland, while the story-line I’m in is filmed in Malta. There are very many well-established as well as fresh actors, and the sets are quite enormous, so it’s incredibly exciting.” She goes on to say that she worries about not being able to renew her visa that expires next summer, so that she might have to move back to Norway now that everything is going so well with her acting career.
Someone more capable than me might want to translate the whole article:)
KatQuote Reply
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