HBO’s Game of Thrones captivated audiences with its thrilling drama, turning Westeros into a global obsession and dominating conversations. Building on this success, the franchise introduced spin-offs like House of the Dragon and others currently in development to revitalize HBO’s universe after the original show’s disappointing final season. Now, George R.R. Martin, the renowned author behind the original fantasy series, weighs in on the latest spin-off.
Following Game of Thrones’ controversial final season, the franchise desperately needed a major win to revive HBO’s adapted universe, leading to several spin-offs now in production. While House of the Dragon provided some relief, many fans feel it fell short of the original, especially with its second season’s deviations. George R.R. Martin, the acclaimed author behind A Song of Ice and Fire, the foundation of the Game of Thrones saga, hasn’t held back in voicing his critiques of House of the Dragon. However, Martin’s outlook on the new Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is notably more positive, generating significant excitement among fans.
George R. R. Martin may have strongly criticized HBO’s House of the Dragon, but his outlook on the upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, seems far more optimistic. In a recent statement, Martin expressed his positive experience with the new series. According to a recent statement given to The Hollywood Reporter, Martin voiced enthusiasm for the new series, suggesting that fans of his books will find much to love. While he chose not to address his concerns about House of the Dragon, Martin focused squarely on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which he praised highly. The spinoff is currently in development and is slated to premiere on HBO sometime next year. “I visited the set in Northern Ireland in July and loved what I saw,” Martin said. “Great cast. Dunk and Egg look as if they walked out of the p ages of my book. My readers are going to love them. I certainly do. Showrunner Ira Parker is doing a great job.”
Martin’s endorsement of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms comes not long after the Game of Thrones creator voiced his disapproval of certain creative choices in HBO’s House of the Dragon. In a now-deleted blog post, Martin expressed frustration over what he called “toxic” story alterations, specifically the omission of Prince Maelor Targaryen, the youngest son of Aegon and Helaena Targaryen. In the original novel, Maelor plays a pivotal role in the Blood & Cheese storyline, with far-reaching consequences. Martin revealed that initial discussions with showrunner Ryan Condal suggested Maelor would be introduced later, but with the series now confirmed to conclude after four seasons, that never materialized. He hinted that this omission might affect the remaining seasons and warned of “larger, more toxic butterflies” due to other potential changes for seasons 3 and 4.
The next Game of Thrones spin-off in development is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, inspired by a series of novellas by George R.R. Martin, the mastermind behind the acclaimed A Song of Ice and Fire series. His works, including several spin-offs like Fire & Blood, continue to fuel HBO’s expanding universe. Although House of the Dragon’s second season faced backlash for altering elements from the source material, Martin reassures fans that they’ll be satisfied with the upcoming spin-off. Set between HBO’s two current adaptations, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place about a century before Game of Thrones and nearly a century after the events of House of the Dragon Season 2. The story follows two unlikely companions, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his young squire Egg, as they journey through Westeros, starting with the tourney at Ashford Meadow. Promising a fresh narrative style and tone, Martin’s praise for the show’s creative team and cast adds to the growing excitement for its release.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is slated to premiere on HBO and MAX in 2025.