HBO to preserve Game of Thrones sets for posterity and tourism

HBO has finished filming Game of Thrones. We’ve got a while to wait before we can see the final episodes, and the network is preparing to make money off the show for a long while after that. There’s at least one prequel in active development, for example. And now, HBO has announced Game of Thrones Legacy, which will preserve several key sets and open them to the public as tourist attractions. Cue the press release:

"As Game of Thrones finishes filming after a decade in Northern Ireland, HBO is celebrating the show’s incredible legacy in the region by converting several filming locations into tourist attractions. For the first time ever, fans of the Emmy® Award-winning series will have the unique opportunity to visit iconic sets from the show and immerse themselves in the world of Westeros.Building on the success of past Game of Thrones live branded experiences, including the Touring Exhibition and Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, HBO will open up the archives and share them with the series’ loyal fans. In true Game of Thrones fashion, the Game of Thrones Legacy attractions will be on a scale and scope bigger than anything the public has ever seen, offering the first opportunity for the public to set foot inside some of the most iconic locations from the series and behind the camera lens to see how the world’s biggest TV show was made. Each site will feature not only the breathtaking sets, but will also exhibit displays of costumes, props, weapons, set decorations, art files, models, and other production materials. The visitor experience will be enhanced by state-of-the-art digital content and interactive materials which will showcase some of the digital wizardry the series is known for."

Naturally, the HBO top brass is very excited about all this. “HBO is thrilled to celebrate the work of the Game of Thrones creative team and crew by preserving these locations and inviting fans to visit Northern Ireland and explore Westeros in person,” said vice president of licensing and retail Jeff Peters. “We look forward to opening the gates and sharing the excitement of stepping inside these amazing sets with Game of Thrones fans from around the world. The opportunity to celebrate Northern Ireland’s pivotal role in the life and legacy of the show and share its culture, beauty and warmth is also a huge inspiration behind these Legacy projects.”

John McGrillen, the chief executive at Tourism NI, agreed. “We couldn’t be more excited about the Game of Thrones Legacy project coming to Northern Ireland,” he said. “While fans have seen the stunning landscapes, coastlines and mountains in the series, we are thrilled they will now have the opportunity to fully experience the charm of Northern Ireland and immerse themselves in to the world of Westeros. The Game of Thrones Legacy project will be a game changer for Northern Ireland on the global tourism level. We very much welcome this exciting announcement by HBO and look forward to welcoming many more visitors to our beautiful country as a result.”

Ah, but what of the details? What sets are being preserved and when will they be open to visit? Says HBO:

"Given the unique and impressive nature of the production work in Northern Ireland, HBO is considering including the standing sets for iconic locations such as Winterfell, Castle Black, and Kings Landing alongside a formal studio tour of Linen Mill Studios which will showcase a wide array of subject matter from the series spanning all seasons and settings. A description of the full scope of the Game of Thrones Legacy project will be revealed at a later date after the exploratory process is completed. A tentative targeted open date is currently set for 2019."

Ahead of season 8, HBO built a massive King’s Landing set on a backlot at Titanic Studios in Northern Ireland. We’ve heard for a while that it was planning on turning that particular set into a tourist location, although this is the first we’ve heard of Castle Black and Winterfell.

It makes perfect sense, though. These sets have become iconic, and fans would relish the opportunity to see them up close and personal. It’s not over yet, but Game of Thrones has already become one of the most important TV shows of all time, and worthy of preservation.

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