It's been a week of ups and downs for Game of Thrones fans. Multiple outlets are now reporting that HBO has canned an unnamed prequel show -- starring Naomi Watts. The pilot was shot over the summer.
The script was from Jane Goldman, whois known for her work on the Kingsman film series and has also produced multiple projects. Thrones author George R. R. Martin was also involved. Goldman would have served as showrunner.
The unnamed show would have starred Naomi Watts alongside Miranda Richardson, Joshua Whitehouse, John Simm, and Marquis Rodrigez. Its story would have focused on a time period five thousand years before the events of Game of Thrones, "centering on an unconstructed era in a land divided into a hundred kingdoms." It was rumored audiences would get a look at the earliest White Walkers and the beginning of the infamous Houses in this project.
Credit: HBO
The series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the pilot didn't get a series order several weeks ago, but HBO did not confirm until today.
HBO has not commented.
A spinoff titled House of the Dragonis still moving forward at HBO Max, HBO confirmed today. That show will focus on Targaryen kings and their family line. This was the prequel that former Game of Thrones all-star writer Bryan Cogman was scripting at one point, but it seems HBO and new writer, Ryan Condal (Colony), have scrapped that version and started from scratch.
It's not a good look for HBO in 2019 that they dropped the only prequel series created by and starring women in favor of another GoT show put in the hands of a white male. Especially in light of the flagship series' recent (and consistent) lack of diversity criticisms.
More on this story at it develops...
