Game Of Thrones is ending this Sunday. What on Earth will we do once all is said and done? Count down the days to the forthcoming prequel, that’s what! Whilst we don’t know exactly when the new show will hit our screens, we do have some information, including who’s involved and what the show might be about. Here’s what we know so far!
WHAT’S IT CALLED?
Whilst there has been no official announcement on the name just yet, George R.R. Martin has been referring to it as ‘The Long Night‘. The third episode of the final season of Game Of Thrones was also called ‘The Long Night‘, so I’d imagine HBO may not want to use that title again. That’s all we know about the title at this point.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Well, judging by the fact that Martin has been referring to the new show as ‘The Long Night‘, and the fact that we’ve heard rumours that the series will be set 5,000 years before the events of Game Of Thrones, one would assume the show will be based around the original invasion of the White Walkers. That all kind of seems a bit mute now, seeing as how they were basically an afterthought during Thrones’ final season, being one of the most anticlimactic and disappointing aspects of an otherwise decent final run of episodes. Here’s hoping there’s a bit more to it, but until we get an official announcement, this is all we know for now.
The problem I have with prequels is the fact that the stakes don’t seem quite as high as we already know how everything pans out, but having the series set 5,000 years before pretty much throws everything out of the window. I think I’d rather have a series set 5,000 years in the future so that we’re completely in the dark, but I’ll take whatever we’re given.
WHO’S RUNNING THE SHOW?
With Game Of Thrones show-runners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss leaving the Iron Throne behind them and preparing to write a brand new trilogy of films set in the Star Wars universe, someone else has to pick up the reigns. Enter Jane Goldman, the wife of British TV chat show host and film critic Jonathon Ross, whose writing credits include Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, Stardust and the Kingsman trilogy. Whilst she is no stranger to genre films, this is, assumedly, more of an adult orientated drama that will be fairly new ground for her. Goldman’s pitch for the first Game Of Thrones spin-off was picked by HBO over other pitches from the likes of Max Borenstein (Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island) and Carly Wray (Mad Men, The Leftovers), with George R. R. Martin helping to write the pilot episode.
WHO’S IN IT?
Naomi Watts is no stranger to the fantasy genre, having starred alongside Jack Black and Adrien Brody in Peter Jackson’s (extremely underrated) 2005 remake of King Kong, as well as the (actually rather good) remake of The Ring, and David Lynch’s incredible third season of Twin Peaks. She’s the biggest name to be announced for the Game Of Thrones prequel so far, but of course she won’t be alone.
Joining Watts (so far) are the likes of John Simm (Doctor Who, Life On Mars, Human Traffic), Naomi Ackie (Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker), Georgie Henley (The Chronicles Of Narnia series) and Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter). So far, so good!
WHEN WILL WE GET TO SEE IT?
Again, there’s been no official announcement about when we’ll get to see it, but the fact they have writers hired and a cast in place suggests that they may well being filming the pilot soon. But in order for us to be able to see it, the show first needs to be picked up. If HBO decide the pilot episode isn’t up to scratch, they may ditch the show entirely and look at other options. However, providing everything goes to plan, it’s entirely possible we could see it as soon April 2020, but April 2021 seems like a safer bet.
Are you excited for a new story set in the universe of A Song Of Ice & Fire? Or has Season 8 of Game of Thrones put you off for good? Let us know in the comments. In the meantime, as soon as we get more information, we’ll keep you updated so keep checking back to NERDFACE for all your Game Of Thrones related news!
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