With the final season of Game of Thrones infamously disappointing the fanbase, the pressure is on for Westeros creator George R.R. Martin to create a satisfying ending with the books. As it turns out, Martin was allegedly trying to save the series from its unsatisfying end.
In journalist James Andrew Miller’s new book, Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers (via Insider), Martin’s agent Paul Haas talks about how Martin had tried to ‘beg’ HBO to extend Game of Thrones to ten seasons, with ten episodes each. Haas says:
“George would fly to New York to have lunch with Plepler, to beg him to do ten seasons of ten episodes because there was enough material for it and to tell him it would be a more satisfying and more entertaining experience.”
Despite Martin’s appeals, the decision to end Game of Thrones was allegedly showrunners’ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’; who were said to be ‘tired’ and ‘wanted to move on.’ Though the show had gone on to do eight seasons, Martin was said to have started to have concerns by Season 5. Hass continues:
“George loves Dan and Dave, but after season five, he did start to worry about the path they were going because George knows where the story goes. He started saying, ‘You’re not following my template.'”
As of now, HBO is set to expand on the world with prequels like House of the Dragon. As for Martin, he’s still working on Winds of Winter, which will likely be the last book in the Song of Ice and Fire series. We don’t know when he’ll eventually finish, but I bet a more direct adaptation of the books can come out in the next few decades.
They should call it Game of Thrones: Brotherhood.
House of the Dragon is set to come out sometime in 2022 on HBO Max.
