HBO may yet order more Game of Thrones prequel shows to pilot

HBO is not putting all of its (dragon) eggs in one Game of Thrones prequel basket quite yet. Despite the prequel show currently known as Blood Moon wrapping filming on its pilot, HBO programming president Casey Bloys told reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that it’s not HBO’s only iron in the fire.

Speaking to The Wrap, Bloys said that “one or two” other scripts for Game of Thrones prequel shows were still in the mix, and that the network could “possibly” order them to pilot. That’s down from the five we originally known about. However, it does line up with what we last heard from George R.R. Martin. Quoth he, a couple months ago:

"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."

Martin isn’t supposed to call it The Long Night and we’ve come to know it as Blood Moon, but Bloys wouldn’t confirm that the show has an official title yet at all. Basically, his answers were only answers in the most technical sense. There’s not much being revealed here — not when he’ll see a finished pilot, not when he and others will decide if Blood Moon gets a series or not, and nothing about the other prequel scripts beyond the fact that they exist.

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In other words, the speculation will continue, especially since Bloys’ wording suggests the other scripts might not move to production at all. “We’re gonna see what happens with this one,” he said. If we read “this one” as Blood Moon, then the implication is that its success or failure in the pilot stage will help HBO decide whether it turns to its other scripts. It probably won’t be the only factor.

The idea here may be to avoid over-saturating HBO’s network time with Game of Thrones. There’s Watchmen, His Dark Materials, Westworld, and more all clamoring for airtime. Add in Blood Moon and a second show, and you start wondering if that’ll dilute the brand, as well as further clutter up the schedule. Game of Thrones fans have proven they’ll wait if need be. HBO has time to make a decision here. In the meantime, let’s keep hope alive.

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