George R.R. Martin Wanted 10 Seasons of 'GoT' with 10 Episodes Each

If you're a fan of behind-the-scenes stories, you need to check out journalist James Andrew Miller’s new book Tinderbox: HBO’s Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers. It tells the story behind the stories on HBO. From the drama of wrangling James Gandolfini on The Sopranos, to the bloodsucking fiends in True Blood, and yes, quite a few stops in Westeros.

One of the most compelling stories was told by George R.R. Martin's agent, Paul Haas. 

His story was about Martin flying to New York to meet with HBO CEO Rochard Pleper in order to convince him that the show should go on longer.

Haas said, “George would fly to New York to have lunch with Plepler, to beg him to do 10 seasons of 10 episodes because there was enough material for it and to tell him it would be a more satisfying and more entertaining experience.”

This is in tune with what Martin has said himself in a Rolling Stone interview where he voiced his desire for the show to go on.

Previously, Martin said, “I wish we had a few more seasons. But I understand. [Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss] are gonna go on to do other things, and I’m sure some of the actors were signed up for like seven or eight years, and they would like to go on and take other roles. All of that is fair. I’m not angry or anything like that, but there’s a little wistfulness in me.”

As we all know, Game of Thrones began its last seasons with less than 10 episodes each, and by the end, the showrunners were ready to step away. While Martin never got his wish, it would have been nice for him to have finished the books so they had the source material to make it deeper. TV is a collaboration between not only artists, but executives and networks as well. I'm thankful for the show we got, even if I wish we got more of it. 

But for fans, HBO's Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, is slated to premiere next year. Who knows how many seasons we'll see of that. 

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