Game of Thrones is somehow wrapping up its story after just two more episodes. But we know author George R.R. Martin's world will be further explored in prequel spinoffs. How many will actually make it to HBO? One is already on the way to filming, while another was recently revealed as DOA. Martin just updated fans on the status of the surviving spinoffs (even though he doesn't like that word), giving a potential hint on plot points:
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.
Was George R.R. Martin simply adding another plug for his new book Fire & Blood, or are there really hints in his new blog post? Chances are good that at least one of the other two spinoffs moving forward -- beyond the one we're not supposed to call The Long Night -- will be about the Targaryen dynasty. Fire & Blood is GRRM's complete history of House Targaryen. I wouldn't be shocked if one of the successor shows followed Aegon's Conquest of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman recently revealed that he was developing a "successor show" with George R.R. Martin, but HBO decided not to move forward with his prequel. No word on what his prequel would've been about.
You know who could probably tell us all about these prequels right now? Bran Stark. He already knows the entire history of Westeros. Let's just sit him down Tyrion-style and make him tell us everything.
Anyway, there are currently two mystery spinoffs/prequels/successor shows "moving forward nicely" at HBO. That's in addition to the one that is already on the pilot fast track, created and executive-produced by Jane Goldman. That one already has Naomi Watts cast as one of the lead characters, and several other stars ready to start filming.
That's the one we're not supposed to call The Long Night, but just the fact that George R.R. Martin wants to call it that gives us some big hints. We know this prequel is meant to be set thousands of years before Aegon's Conquest. The period of the Long Night happened thousands of years before the conquest as well, during the Age of Heroes in the middle of a horrible winter that lasted a generation.
During that time, a group called the Others emerged -- what we call the White Walkers -- and they raised wights to fight the living. The Children of the Forest (shown on Game of Thrones to have created the first White Walker, the Night King) aligned with the First Men to fight back the Others. So there's a lot of story to mine there.
Interestingly enough, the Game of Thrones Season 8 episode everyone just calls The Battle of Winterfell was actually titled "The Long Night." Our group defeated the White Walkers (OK, Arya Stark did) in the battle of a lifetime.
The HBO Powers That Be have already said the focus will stay on Game of Thrones until it's complete, and then we can talk more about filming the spinoffs. That time is coming soon.
Game of Thrones just had another dramatic episode last night, even if all anyone can talk about is that misplaced coffee cup. (Oops.) The battle of Dany vs. Cersei continues Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO.
