George R.R. Martin: Three Game of Thrones prequels still in development

Game of Thrones is over in a few short weeks, but HBO is busy laying the groundwork for the next phase in what may or may not turn out to be the Game of Thrones Cinematic Universe, or whatever it ends up being called. Westeros World? A Song of Shows and Movies?

Anyway, there’s already a Game of Thrones prequel set thousands of years before the mainline show in active development. It takes place long before dragons came to Westeros, and stars such heavy hitters as Naomi Watts and Miranda Richardson. A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin has taken to calling it The Long Night, although there is no official title as of yet. Showrunner Jane Goldman will shoot the pilot for that show this year, which means we’ll hopefully see a proper season by 2020.

However, back when HBO was getting this ball rolling, there were several prequels shows in development. We now know that at least one of them — a show being worked on by longtime Game of Thrones scribe Bryan Cogman — has been shelved. As for the rest, mystery reigns, although Martin has been more forthcoming than most about what’s going down behind the scenes. Just yesterday, he got candid with a new post on his Not a Blog:

"We have had five different GAME OF THRONES successor shows in development (I mislike the term “spinoffs”) at HBO, and three of them are still moving forward nicely.   The one I am not supposed to call THE LONG NIGHT will be shooting later this year, and two other shows remain in the script stage, but are edging closer.   What are they about?  I cannot say.   But maybe some of you should pick up a copy of FIRE & BLOOD and come up with your own theories."

I prefer the term “prequels” myself, but you all call them whatever you want to.

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Anyway, beyond confirmation that HBO is still working on multiple prequel shows, the big takeaway here is Martin’s hint that readers should brush up on Fire & Blood, which is about the history of the Targaryen dynasty in Westeros. Is Martin hinting at a show revolving around Aegon Targaryen’s invasion of Westeros, or perhaps about the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons? Maybe we could even dip back into what the Targaryens were doing in Valyria before the Doom?

The possibilities are many. I hope HBO doesn’t come down too hard on Martin for dropping hints like this. They’ve got their hands pretty full already.

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