Moments ago, a raven landed on my window sill with a miniature scroll tied to its tiny leg. Upon my unfurling of the weathered parchment, I've been informed that HBO's GAME OF THRONES prequel starring Naomie Watts is no longer in the works.
According to Deadline, who exclusively broke the news on Tuesday, showrunner Jane Goldman has been emailing the cast and crew of the project to inform them that the pilot is deader than petitioner's hopes to have David Benioff and D.B. Weiss remake the final season of GAME OF THRONES.
The long-gestating project for the untitled prequel was said to take place thousands of years before the battle for the Iron Throne, as chronicled by HBO's award-winning swords and sorcery drama GAME OF THRONES. The newest story from Goldman and Martin would have highlighted a departure from the Golden Age of Heroes, when a looming darkness consumed some of the world's greatest warriors. If the show had gone to air, it would have explored the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, as well as the mysteries of the East and of course, the Starks of legend.
Word has it that Goldman's GAME OF THRONES prequel project was under duress thanks in part to heavy corporate expectations, in addition to extreme post-production and rumors about problems while filming in Northern Ireland.
Back in September, HBO had unofficially ordered a pilot for a second GAME OF THRONES prequel project from Martin and Ryan Condal, which we've heard is set 300 years before the events of GOT and chronicles the beginning of the end for House Targaryen. So far, no word of this endeavor being cancelled has been given.
The cancellation of Goldman's pilot arrives just before HBO owner WarnerMedia is set to launch an investors day presentation of its HBO Max streaming service. The subscription-based platform is of course HBO's answer to standing firm as the battle for streamer supremacy rages on. Thankfully, HBO appears quite confident that their service will weather the oncoming storm and then some.
How do you feel about HBO cancelling Goldman's pilot for her GAME OF THRONES prequel? Were you looking forward to seeing where many of the franchise's threads first began, or did a rocky series finale to GAME OF THRONES proper throw you off of the idea? Let us know your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below.