Yesterday, fans got the somewhat disappointing yet expected news that Game of Thrones is nearing its final chapter. But does that mean we’ll see the end of this fantasy world of Westeros? For years, fans have been clamoring for a spinoff of HBO’s tremendously successful drama. Whether it be a prequel or a sequel, or a side story. But don’t hold your breath, according to showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss. A proper Game of Thrones spinoff is far off into the future, if it happens at all.
Right now, at this moment in time, there is no Game of Thrones spinoff being planned. That doesn’t meant it won’t happen. David Benioff and Dan Weiss want to cap Game of Thrones off at an uneven 73 hours. They position that there will only be 13 episodes left after Season 6 comes to a close. That means a shorter Season 7, with 7 episodes, and an even shorter Season 8, which will run just 6 episodes. Though, it has been noted by sources close to the HBO series that this is not official by any means.
Anything is possible. Including more episodes as part of a completely different series. HBO has no qualms about continuing on with this saga. But right now, the creative team isn’t focused on anything but telling this particular current story. And they are going to stay focused on that solely for the next couple of years. When asked if a spinoff was in the works, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo flatly says this.
“No. If that were to happen it would have to come from [Benioff and Weiss] really feeling something, or [author George R.R. Martin] really feeling that it was the right thing to do. Not knowing how this particular story ends, I don’t know. There are plenty of characters, secondary characters, [that] you could build a world around. We’re always going to be drawn to a strong creative vision. But we are not going to do that unless we feel their passion.”
The showrunners believe that all of the main characters in Game of Thrones could support their own spinoff. But it definitely would be hard too chose who to follow. Especially when they aren’t even certain who will be left standing when Game of Thrones draws to its inevitable conclusion. David Benioff has this to say to EW back when Season 3was getting ready to launch.
“We could easily write a show about just, say, Bronn [Jerome Flynn] – The Bronn Show. We could do a great half-hour comedy with Sam [John Bradley] and Gilly [Hannah Murray]. It’s an embarrassment of riches. There are so many great characters and you want to spend more time with them.”
Creator and author George. R.R. Martin certainly isn’t at a loss for material. He’s done a lot of world building, and has works based in the era of Old Valyria, to the story of Robert’s Rebellion, to Martin’s Hedge Knight, all of which have been chronicled in spinoff novellas. But, alas, producing Game of Thrones on its own is a monumental task, and an all-consuming one that doesn’t allow for the showrunners to even think about a second show. Dan Weiss says this when asked if a Game of Thrones spinoff is being considered at this time.
“No, we don’t talk about that stuff. The job at hand is too enormous and challenging to be further diffusing ourselves by thinking about spin-offs, and theme park rides, and ice ballets … but if anybody has a good pitch for a good Game of Thrones ice ballet, let us know.”
As of yet, George R.R. Martin has not finished his sixth book in the Ice and Fire series. If Game of Thrones ends in 2018 with Season 8, the TV show will have come to its conclusion well before the novels upon which they are based. This also opens up a world of opportunities for a spinoff, as the material in the books and TV show will be vastly different, and there will be extra material to draw upon in expanding this world. As for right now, we’ll just have to wait and see how this all pans out.