What’s Next After ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 7? Cast Could Return For Prequel Series, HBO Confirms
For fans of Game of Thrones, it’s an indisputable fact that the show’s end is on the horizon. However, HBO doesn’t plan to let go of the franchise just yet, with the network confirming that they’re in talks with author George R.R. Martin in regards to a follow-up spin-off series. Whilst the talks are still very much preliminary, HBO is keen to take advantage of the thousands of years of history created by Martin for the Game of Thrones universe, suggesting that a prequel set before the events of the show could be on the table.
According to Entertainment Weekly, HBO’s networking president Casey Bloys confirmed that they’re looking into the idea of a prequel, saying “I would say it’s still kind of preliminary ongoing talks. There are areas we are exploring, but I wouldn’t point to any one and say, ‘This is what we’re going to do.'” Whilst there’s currently no official confirmation of what form a Game of Thrones spin-off would take, it definitely appears that HBO is keen to explore an area of Westeros’ history that hasn’t yet been seen in the show.
Don't worry, HBO is already gearing up for 'Game of Thrones' spin-offs: https://t.co/2c2KWDSrVf pic.twitter.com/Ffh3tjuW5o
— VICE (@VICE) November 16, 2016
Ultimately, as the author of the show’s source material, George R.R. Martin is likely to have the final say on a potential spin-off. At the same time, it’s highly unlikely that he would be directly involved in any further Game of Thrones content for HBO, with the author largely pre-occupied with his upcoming book release.
At the same time, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the duo responsible for bringing the HBO series to life have ruled themselves out of a spin-off. According to the Inquisitr, whilst the show’s producers are keen on the idea of a spin-off, they’re entirely focused on Game of Thrones as it stands and can’t see themselves being involved in the aforementioned prequel. With that in mind, without the involvement of author George R. R. Martin or showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, a Game of Thrones spin-off could look very different to the main show.
RELATED STORIES ON INQUISITR:
‘Game Of Thrones’ Creator George R.R. Martin Slams Donald Trump As ‘Unfit To Lead’
Bloys was also pressed for some information about Season 8, the show’s final season. According to the Independent, when asked how many episodes the final season will be comprised of, Bloys replied by saying “I’ll take as much as we can get.” That follows reports that Benioff and Weiss are looking to scale the show’s eighth and final season down to just six episodes in order to ensure a high level of quality. However, that isn’t something that HBO has confirmed, with the decision seemingly in the hands of the show’s producers.
There have also been reports that author George R. R. Martin is keen for the last couple of episodes in that season to be released in theaters, considering the show’s scope and cinematic production values. However, HBO doesn’t appear to be all that keen on the idea, with Bloys saying that his primary focus is serving the network’s subscribers.
HBO In Talks For 'GAME OF THRONES' Prequel https://t.co/8RifTrkXZv pic.twitter.com/oJFjBSLDsp
— ComicBook NOW! (@ComicBookNOW) November 15, 2016
Game of Thrones will return for its seventh season in late 2017. Following that, the show will air for one final season in 2018, during which, the story of Game of Thrones will be concluded. However, the fantasy drama has been a huge success for HBO, meaning the network will be undeniably keen to continue taking advantage of the Game of Thrones universe created by George R. R. Martin. More details about a potential spin-off are likely to be announced before the release of the show’s two final seasons.
[Featured Image by HBO]
