Summary
- George R.R. Martin gives an update on Game of Thrones animated spinoffs and says they are close to taking the next steps.
- Two of the original animated projects have been shelved, but work continues on the remaining two, along with an animated Nine Voyages show.
- The success of Game of Thrones has opened the doors for interconnected fantasy franchises to potentially replace Hollywood's superhero obsession.
George R.R. Martin has given a fresh update on the long-gestating plans for a slate of animated spinoff shows set in the world of Game of Thrones. While HBO has already followed on from the success of its hit fantasy series with the prequel show House of the Dragon, it was previously reported that several other animated projects were also being developed with an eye to further expand upon the franchise. Yet, despite the positive reception enjoyed by House of the Dragon season 1, further news regarding the status of the franchise’s proposed animated outings has been scarce since they were first announced.
Most recently, however, an animated Nine Voyages show that was originally planned as a live-action series. Check out his comments below:
As it happens, HBO and I have our own animated projects, set in the world of A SONG OF ICE & FIRE. None of them have been greenlit yet, but I think we are getting close to taking the next step with a couple of them. When this last round of development started a few years back, we had four ideas for animated shows, with some great talents attached. Writers rooms and summits, outline and scripts followed in due course… but, alas, two of the original projects were subsequently shelved.
Work on the other two animated projects continues apace, however…and meanwhile, we have moved NINE VOYAGES, our series about the legendary voyages of the Sea Snake, over from live action to animation. A move I fully. Budgetary constraints would likely have made a live action version prohibitively expensive, what with half the show taking place at sea, and the necessity of creating a different port every week, from Driftmark to Lys to the Basilisk Isles to Volantis to Qarth to… well, on and on and on. There’s a whole world out there. And we have a lot better chance of showing it all with animation. So we now have three animated projects underway.
How Interconnected Fantasy Franchises Could Replace Hollywood’s Preoccupation With Superheroes
While Hollywood has had a long and storied history of bringing fantasy stories to life long before the celebrated 2011 debut of Game of Thrones, there is no doubt that Martin’s complex and arresting tale set a new benchmark for the genre. Reigniting widespread interest in far-flung tales of magic and intrigue, several other studios would scramble to capitalize on HBO’s unprecedented success story and establish their own high-budget fantasy shows.
10 Fantasy Shows Influenced By Game Of Thrones
The adaptation of George R.R. Martin's novels was so influential that several other fantasy and historical drama shows seem to walk in its footsteps.
Having already set the stage for the emergence of other popular shows such as Netflix’s The Witcher and Amazon’s Wheel of Time and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, with HBO potentially looking to further expand on its Game of Thrones franchise, it is possible that interconnected fantasy properties could potentially take over from Hollywood’s current preoccupation with superhero franchises. With adaptations spanning both live-action and animated formats, the richly detailed backdrops of properties Martin’s Westeros and Tolkien’s Middle-earth could potentially rival the appeal and longevity of franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Moreover, with the recent struggles experienced by both Marvel and DC’s more recent outings, many commentators are already beginning to question whether Hollywood’s superhero bubble is about to burst. Should audiences continue to shy away from superhero movies and shows in even greater numbers, perhaps HBO's and Martin’s plans to continue building on Game of Thrones could spark a new pop-culture obsession with expansive, interconnected fantasy worlds instead.
Source: George R. R. Martin
Game Of Thrones
- Release Date
- 2011 - 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
- David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Directors
- David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff
Cast
Jon Snow
Isaac Hempstead WrightBrandon Bran Stark
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on George R. R. Martin's ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
- Writers
- D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, David Benioff
- Franchise(s)
- Game of Thrones
- Seasons
- 8
- Story By
- George R.R. Martin
- Streaming Service(s)
- MAX
Your comment has not been saved