Summary
Game of Thronesfans can finally rest easy as one of the iconic show’s many planned spinoffs has gotten an update that shows it’s still well on its way to hitting streaming services as previously expected, despite massive shifts in the streaming space.
After the conclusion of the original run ofGame of Throneson HBO, it was inevitable that a plethora of spin-offs and other adaptations of author George R.R. Martin’s work would follow to capitalize on the massive fanbase the show had built over eight seasons.Game of Throneswasa great show despite the botched ending, andfans were tentatively excited to get more adaptations and spin-offsin the same setting, and a lot of such projects were announced following the close of the original show. From a prequel series telling the story of the Targaryens and their downfall to a show focused on Kit Harrington’s Jon Snow as a protagonist, the potential avenues to explore the world ofGame of Throneswere exciting.
While there was some initial uncertainty about whethertheGame of Thronesspin-offs could succeed or fail, which led to some planned projects being canned, the success ofHouse of the Dragonseems to have bolstered confidence in the rest. According toDeadline, director Owen Harris has been attached to oversee half the episodes for the planned spin-off seriesA Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight,reiterating the project’s potential to release on schedule in 2025. Some fans of the source material were worried as it seemed to fall off the radar at certain points, leading to rumors that it might be hit with further delays, such as the pause brought on by the writer’s strike in May, shortly after the series order was given in April.
The series, which takes place atan interesting time in theGame of Thronestimelinebetween the original series and theHouse of the Dragonseries, is set to have a somewhat diminutive six episodes, less than the first seasons of either of the other two shows currently out in the franchise. This might have more to do with the source material, the first part of Martin’sTales ofDunk & Eggfantasy series, being smaller works than the source material for the other series. The series is currently comprised of three novellas:The Hedge Knightfrom 1998, The Sworn Swordpublished in 2003,and 2010’sThe Mystery Knight,all available in one collected volume titledA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,giving the upcoming series its full name. Martin has evenpreviously expressed interest in continuing the series, presumably after publishing the next book in the mainlineA Song of Ice and Fireseries
While it was a legitimate question at one point ifGame of Thronesfans even wanted spinoffsafter the botched ending to the series, with the resounding success ofHouse of the Dragon’sfirst season, that query has been put to rest. Furthermore, the addition of Harris to direct half the show is a decision that fans can certainly be excited about. The director is most well known for being in charge ofBlack Mirror’s San Junipero episode, an installment of the anthology series widely considered to be the best and sitting above 90% in critic score. He’s also notably worked onTroy: The Fall of a Cityand multiple science fiction shows, giving him someexperience working with the sort of broad, antiquated worldthat makes upGame of Thrones.
At this juncture, it looks likeGame Of Thronesdropping the Jon Snow spinoff was actually a good thing, as the story of The Hedge Knight isa much more intimate and refreshing affairthan anything that could be done with Jon Snow’s already well-established and deeply tragic character. Fans of the books will certainly agree, and fans of the series will come to appreciate the breath of fresh air that these characters and their stories bring to the franchise.
TheGame of Thronesfranchise is currently available to stream on Max.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
