HBO CEO contemplates a Game of Thrones “brand extension”

Richard Plepler. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

HBO executives have talked about the possibility of a Game of Thrones spinoff before. “There are so many properties and areas to go to,” programming president Casey Bloys told The Hollywood Reporter in September. “For us, it’s about finding the right take with the right writer.” Then, just last month, Bloys said that HBO was in “ongoing talks” on the subject. Basically, everybody at HBO seems to want a spinoff but no one is giving up any details. But today…nothing’s really changed.

The Hollywood Reporter, which apparently is very keen on this topic, recently talked to HBO CEO Richard Plepner. According to him, HBO is having “embryonic conversations” about the future of the Game of Thrones brand.

"It certainly has not escaped Casey and myself that there might be some brand extension [for GOT] that would be exciting. It certainly has not escaped the producers. Right now we’re focused on finishing the series with the kind of energy and excitement that everyone has come to expect. We’re going to do that while at the same time parallel processing very embryonic stages of other possibilities."

It’s too bad we aren’t getting more details about a potential Game of Thrones spinoff (or theme park, or line of lunchboxes, or whatever else “brand extension” means), but ultimately it looks like HBO’s priorities are in the right place: finishing the show its got with a bang. Sooner or later, one of these guys is going to let something slip, though.

In other news, A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin has weighed in on the recently announced Golden Globes nominations, of which Game of Thrones snagged two: Best Drama for the show itself and a Best Supporting Actress nod for Lena Headey (Cersei).

"Being an HBO guy, I’m thrilled that to see that both GAME OF THRONES and WESTWORLD have been nominated for the big prize… though WESTWORLD is going to be some tough competition. (In fact, I would figure WW for the favorite). And as an science fiction and fantasy geek, I am also delighted to see that STRANGER THINGS made the list. Three out of five finalists being genre shows… and during this golden age of television… is another sign of just how far we’ve come."

The other two shows up for Best Drama are This is Us and The Crown, by the way.

Westworld, Game of Thrones colleague/competition

Martin may be right to be wary of Game of Thrones’ chances to win Best Drama. While the Emmys have awarded the show of late, Game of Thrones has yet to win a Golden Globe in this category, although it’s been nominated four times, including this time. We’ll see how things go when the Golden Globes air on NBC on January 8.