game of thrones prequel

With just one season left of its flagship series ‘Game of Thrones’, HBO is looking to stay in the realm of Westeros.  After all, ‘GoT’ is not ending due to lack of popularity.  It’s still HBO’s top show, after all.  So understandably the network is looking for a way to continue the mythology and that way seems to be in prequels.  It was previously revealed that HBO was developing four potential series that would take place before the events of ‘GoT’, including one spearheaded by creator George R.R. Martin and ‘Kingsman’ scribe Jane Goldman. Now word has emerged that a fifth prequel is in the works from Martin and co-executive producer/writer Bryan Cogman.  This prequel has been in the works for some time, but Cogman’s involvement was not discussed before, as he hadn’t yet finalized his deal.

During this time, Martin could only tease Cogman’s project, saying:

“And there’s more. We had four scripts in development when I arrived in LA last week, but by the time I left we had five. We have added a fifth writer to the original four. No, I will not reveal the name here. HBO announced the names of the first four, and will no doubt announce the fifth as well, once his deal has closed. He’s a really terrific addition, however, a great guy and a fine writer, and aside from me and maybe Elio and Linda, I don’t know anyone who knows and loves Westeros as well as he does.”

Now that the deal is done, Martin proudly made the announcement via his blog, stating:

“If [D.B. Weiss and David Benioff] have been the kings of Westeros for these past seven seasons, Bryan Cogman has surely been the Prince of Dragonstone … Bryan’s series will be an adaptation, and one that will thrill most fans of the books, I think, set during a very exciting period of Westerosi history. And I’ll be working with him every step of the way … we could possibly see two or even three make it to the pilot stage, with one series emerging on air in 2019 or 2020.”

Benioff and Weiss, the creators of ‘GoT’ have already been announced as not being involved with the prequels.  With that being the case, it should be comforting to know that someone that has been involved with the show from the very beginning is taking the reigns of at least one of the spin-offs.  Other than Benioff and Weiss, Cogman has contributed more scripts than any other scribe, including Season 7’s ‘Stormborn’, Season 4’s ‘The Laws of Gods and Men’ and Season 3’s ‘Kissed by Fire‘, some of the most pivotal episodes of the series.

The most intriguing part of Martin’s statement is that Cogman’s series will be an adaptation.  The big question is, of what?  It’s already been said that the prequels will not include any of the existing ‘GoT’ characters.  Martin also nixed any ideas about these shows adapting Robert’s Rebellion and ‘Dunk & Egg’.  It’s possible that the show will draw from ‘A World of Ice and Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and Game of Thrones’, the exhaustive companion guide to his book series.  It’s also possible that the source material could be ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’, a collection of novellas.

Cogman scripted the episode ‘Oathkeeper’ which fleshed out the White Walkers further than they ever had been before.  He has experience contributing to an already rich mythology.

Keep in mind, just because there are five shows being developed, that doesn’t mean all– or any– will make it to the screen.  (Although, it’s very likely at least one will.)  And whichever show or shows that HBO picks up won’t air until at least a year after ‘GoT’ ends.  At this time, a start date for the final season has not yet been determined, but it is believed it will start in either later 2018 or 2019.  That means it could be 2020 before a new ‘GoT’-based series arrives.

What do you think about the idea of new shows that continue to embellish this fantasy world?

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter