HBO Greenlights Game Of Thrones Fantasy series gets pilot Source: Variety
Good news for geeks, with word that George RR Martin's dizzingly complex, ultra-violent and thoroughly addictive A Song of Ice and Fire - or at least first instalment A Game of Thrones - is set for a HBO fantasy drama series, long rumoured but finally greenlit. Admittedly, it's not a film - but with a series this complex, HBO's a better place for it.
A pilot for the show has been given the go-ahead, written by David "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" Benioff and D.B. "I Am Legend prequel" Weiss. It is, roughly, the story of a kingdom whose destiny comes to depend on two warring clans, the Starks (goodies, more or less) and the Lannisters (baddies, mostly - but nothing's clear-cut in this world). It's worth noting that this is a fantasy world that is almost entirely magic-free, and largely lacking in monsters to boot, except for the human kind.
But don't worry: there's regicide, incest, executions, civil wars, conspiracies, changes of heart, murders, ambushes and even zombie resurrection to keep you entertained - and when a story practically opens with a small boy being thrown off a roof, you know this is not your typical Dungeons and Dragons spin-off.
HBO acquired the rights to the books two years ago, and has taken this long to nail plans for the pilot - which, if all goes well, could turn into a complete series and perhaps encourage the book's author, George RR Martin, to finish writing them already. This could make The Wire look like The Teletubbies, so fingers crossed that it works.
I'm just reading my way through this series at the mo (m'on the direwolves!). If it's rubbish, hey i don't have to watch it and if it rocks it'll be 7 kinds of awesome. Pretty pleased with this piece of news! ... Read More
I don't know anything about these books beyond what I just read but they sound awesome. Plus I fucking hate reading so this'll save me some effort ... Read More
The good thing is that the first book doesn't really have large scale battles in it so that should help the budget. There will be some compromises I feel but as long as they keep the War of the Roses feel to the whole thing I will be happy.
I'm guessing we can expect this in 2010? ... Read More
Brilliant. I've been waiting for news on this for ages (and A Dance With Dragons) and now my day has got a little bit better. The only thing I hope is they do it well, but it is HBO. I hope HBO have taken into account the budget that is going to be needed to make something this epic. Hopefully they learnt their lessons from Rome. Bring on the casting news! ... Read More
Great news. Doubt this will last more than two seasons - the budget will have to be at the same level as Rome. At least in the first book the number of locations is limited.
Trying to think how much of the first book will be in the pilot, I can't think of a natural place to stop the story. ... Read More
I'm looking forward to this series, they could make it really interesting... although I'm starting to loose interest with the book series it self. A bit too crowded, IMO. I'm now stuck in the book four, after a few hundred pages none of my favourite charecters have even showed up. ... Read More
HBO have a good pedigree and given the lack of real magic etc it seems a less risky option than something like a Wheel of Time. Fingers crossed it makes it through the necessary stages and gets a full series, and is fantastic. Its about time there was an "adult" fantasy series on TV. ... Read More
