George R.R. Martin confirms something important about Lady Stoneheart

If you’re a fan of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, then you may have been upset when, at the end of Game of Thrones Season 3, Lady Stoneheart didn’t make an appearance. In the novels (get out now if you don’t want to know more), Lady Catelyn Stark’s body is found days after her murder at the Red Wedding, after the Freys dump it in a river. The Brotherhood without Banners happen upon it, and the leader, Beric Dondarrion, bends over to kiss Lady Catelyn’s cold dead lips. He gives her his fire and dies for good, but brings Catelyn back from the dead as the vengeful Stoneheart.

Ever since the Season 3 finale, fans like myself have been hoping that the Game of Thrones showrunners—David Benioff and Dan Weiss—would finally put Stoneheart on TV. With the show going back to the Riverlands this year, could it finally happen? Now, we may have our answer.

Last week, YouTuber and A Song of Ice and Fire theorist Preston Jacobs attended Balticon, a science fiction convention where George R.R. Martin was the guest of honor. Thanks to his Patreon supporters, Preston was able to score a dinner with Martin—well, part of one—along with several other fans. He memorialized the conversation in a YouTube video. The whole thing is interesting, but the Lady Stoneheart stuff starts at the 7:24 mark.

"The Italian then asked George if Lady Stoneheart was going to appear on the show. George said no, that she’d been cut. He said if he were involved in the show things would be different, but he’s busy trying to finish books."

There you have it, folks. Unless Benioff and Weiss are planning a surprise, Lady Stoneheart will not appear on Game of Thrones. As a huge fan of the Stoneheart character, I’m disappointed, although I can begrudgingly admit that, at this point in the story, it may be too late to introduce her.

According to Preston, Martin revealed a couple of other details at the dinner. Look away if you don’t wish to read SPOILERS:

The other interesting tidbits:

• One woman asked if the Others (White Walkers on the show) are purely evil or if they’re three-dimensional characters. He said she’d have to wait to find out.
• Arya will meet Gendry again! (Note that this is specific to the books and doesn’t meet the two will reunite on the show.)
• The Brave Companions will be back, at least the ones who aren’t dead.