HBO Will Make Game of Thrones Spinoffs:
Game of Thrones was in the middle of harassment when it released its last season. Fans were particularly pissed about the lack of efforts and the ending which was not expected. This resulted in a permanent dent in the franchise’s image. Till season 7, the entire series was considered to be elite. But when the finale season released, fans even refused to consider it as a season, because they said it was that bad. But because of Game of Throne’s popularity, HBO became one of the most-watched cable networks in the USA and dominated awards seasons for a number of years. However, following the show’s end, the network has struggled to produce a show with the same crossover appeal.
The show, based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, was a genuine pop culture phenomenon, crossing over demographics and becoming a cultural touchstone for the eight seasons it was on the air. Variety has revealed its list of most-watched TV networks for 2020, revealing that HBO suffered last year, shedding far more viewers than previously suspected. The report states that among the 18-49 audience, HBO’s key demographic and the audience who tuned in to watch Game of Thrones in their millions, dropped by more than half. Overall, the network didn’t fare much better, losing 38% of its audience in 2020 compared to 2019. The massive drop in viewers is attributed to Game of Thrones, which broadcasts its eighth and final season in 2019, ending.
HBO executive Casey Bloys says fan anticipation will decide which game of Thrones spinoffs gets a green light forward. Game of Thrones ended in 2019 with more of a shrug than a celebration, and since then, fans have been looking forward to two things. One of those has been the long-awaited release of author George RR Martin’s sixth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire saga, The Winds of Winter. The second is the multiple spinoffs HBO has had in the works at one point or another. Initially, HBO went into production on The Long Night, a prequel series that would tell the story of the winter that last an entire generation. A pilot was shot, with Naomi Watts starring, but HBO decided not to pick up the series. Now, production on House of the Dragon, a series centered around the early years of the Targaryen dynasty, is about to start with a projected premiere date of 2022. HBO also has several other Game of Thrones spinoffs in development, including one based on Martin’s novellas The Tales of Dunk and Egg.
Bloys had previously said that HBO was only working on one Game of Thrones spinoff at a time, but that plan has changed. With the announcement of The Tales of Dunk and Egg, Bloys revealed that multiple projects are in development in the world of Game of Thrones, and he told TVLine that one primary consideration HBO is taking into account is fan anticipation. In looking at which stories the network wants to tell, Bloys and the rest are looking to see what fans want to see most, with the network taking its time in deciding which shows to bring to the table.
“Obviously, we know George has this incredible world with all of this really rich and complicated history and all of these characters. So we’ve been trying to be thoughtful about what are the stories that are worth telling. What would be exciting? What would fans love? Dunk and Egg is one of those, but not the only one.”
Game of Thrones fans petitioned for the final season to be remade, which, of course, will never happen. Still, it looks like HBO is hoping to at least soothe the wounds left by the flagship series’ finale with series that fans can look forward to. It is also widely considered that Game of Thrones has one of the worst television endings of all time. The Tales of Dunk and Egg is definitely one of those, but with Martin’s vast world, there are many stories the network could tell. HBO had previously promised that the network would never revisit Game of Thrones’ characters, but now that seems to at least be on the table.
The fates of the characters fans came to know and love are widely discussed, and it would seem almost a given that HBO is at least exploring those options. Many called for an Arya Stark spinoff after the series finale saw the character charting new territory and heading west, away from Westeros. It’s too early to tell which Game of Thrones spinoffs could be coming, but luckily for Bloys, it’s not as if there are a lack of options. Let’s hope they can stick the landing this time.
So if you are a GoT fan, what kind of a spinoff would you prefer? Let us know?
