Ever since Game of Thrones took the world by storm, the franchise has expanded ever outward into spinoffs and related materials. You may know all about shows like House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but did you know that a stage play has been in development in the UK for close to five years? The last update we got about it came from George R.R. Martin's blog in mid-2024, when he teased that work on the play was "coming along well."
Well, that just changed in a big way, because at long last we have an official announcement on our hands. Game of Thrones: The Mad King is heading for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Straton-upon-Avon, with a premiere date of Summer 2026. It is being adapted from Martin's books by Duncan Macmillan, and directed by Dominic Cooke.
The Mad King is set during the years before the start of A Song of Ice and Fire, where it will cover a dramatic tourney at Harrenhal which is a key event that kicked off Robert's Rebellion. Here's the official description:
'Enter the world before.
A long winter thaws in Harrenhal, and spring is promised. At a lavish banquet on the eve of a
jousting tournament, lovers meet and revellers speculate about who will contend. But in the
shadows, amid growing unease at the blood-thirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad
King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot. Far away, the
drums of battle sound.
Family bonds, ancient prophecies, and the sacred line of succession will be tested in a
dangerous campaign for power. Who will survive? Who will rise?
'Wars aren’t won by those with most cause, but whose story’s best told.'
Game of Thrones: The Mad King is a sweeping new stage epic from the world of George
R. R. Martin, written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. Spanning the
final years before the events of the novels, this powerful drama reveals a legendary chapter
of Westerosi history.
Come face to face with familiar characters from the houses Targaryen, Stark, Lannister,
Baratheon and Martell and witness the events that set the stage for the world’s most critically
acclaimed series.
Yes, this is the tourney referenced numerous times in A Song of Ice and Fire, where Rhaegar Targaryen named Lyanna Stark as the queen of love and beauty rather than his own wife, Elia Martell and incited the ire of Robert Baratheon. It's also a crucial turning point for Aerys Targaryen, and the rebellion as a whole. Many important figures in Westeros' history are present at the Harrenhal tournament, including Ned Stark, Howland Reed, Jaime Lannister, Aerys "The Mad King" Targaryen, and more.
Obviously, for fans of the deep lore of A Song of Ice and Fire, or casual fans who simply can't get enough of Westeros, this is a must-see production.
“When I first wrote Game of Thrones, I never imagined that it would be anything other than a book," Martin said in a statement. "It was a place for my imagination to exist without limits. To my great surprise, it was adapted for a series and viewers have been able to enter the world of my imagination through the medium of television. For my work to now be adapted for the stage is something I did not expect but welcome with great enthusiasm and excitement. Theatre offers something unique. A place for mine and the audience’s imagination to meet and hopefully create something magical. "
Martin also weighed in on how this play landed at the Royal Shakespeare Company, specifically. “For me, the RSC was the obvious choice when thinking about putting a Game of Thrones story on the stage. Shakespeare is the greatest name in English literature, and his plays have been a constant source of inspiration to me and my writing. Not only that, he faced similar challenges in how to put a battle on stage, so we are in good company. It will be thrilling to watch the events of this new play unfold in a live environment. Duncan’s masterful script honours the world completely, and I am so excited for both fans of the series, and perhaps people who have never picked up one of my books, to experience this new story in a theatre.”
Adaptor Duncan Macmillan and director Dominic Cook are in agreement with Martin on RSC being a perfect fit for his work. "George’s storytelling is Shakespearean in its scale and its themes - dynastic struggle, ambition, rebellion, madness, prophecy, ill-fated love. From the beginning, Shakespeare’s histories and tragedies have been our primary reference for the ambition of this production, so the RSC feels like a natural home."
The pair issued a joint statement about what to expect in the play, and I won't lie, it's getting me pretty excited:
"The play is a prequel, taking place over a decade before the events of Game of Thrones. A long winter has started to thaw and, for the first time in years, all the great houses come together for a tournament - destined to be the greatest of the age. It feels like a new dawn, full of hope and opportunity. But tournaments always have a darker purpose.
It will be thrilling for us to share this new play with audiences, both those that know and love George’s books and HBO’s series, but also audiences who know nothing and want to come and experience something both beautifully intimate and truly epic."
"When we first read Duncan’s script, it was immediately apparent how this epic cycle of warring families sits in a continuum with Shakespeare’s history cycles. So it feels like an exciting and apposite marriage between the RSC and Game of Thrones universe," added RSC Co-Artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey. “Stories of power, ambition and the complexities of succession are evergreen - and this adaptation explores the true nature of authority through the lens of young people grappling with inherited identities. The story will have all the epic qualities audiences would expect from Game of Thrones, but ultimately, it has a very human heart.”
According to the press release, priority booking will start on April 14, 2026, with public booking to be announced that same month. If you can't wait that long for more details, you can get early access by becoming an RSC member. The full details for the Royal Shakespeare Company's upcoming season is set to be announced on February 26, so I'd expect to get a better idea of the dates The Mad King will run then.
It was already looking like a pretty exciting year for Westeros, with the newly announced release month for House of the Dragon season 3 and the excellent first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Now, we've got one more thing to look forward to. We'll have our ear to the ground for more updates about Game of Thrones: The Mad King.