George R.R. Martin Says a 'Game of Thrones' Movie Is Actually Happening

Frazier Tharpe
Updated
Well this is the most surprising thing to happen to 'Game of Thrones' since the Red Wedding.

What is dead may never die. No, this isn't about Jon Snow this time—instead of resurrection, there's talk at HBO of extending life. In recent years there's been debate between HBO execs, creator George R.R. Martin, and showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss over when exactly Game of Thrones should come to an end. Benioff and Weiss are campaigning for artistic integrity, to end the show when the story dictates; HBO is sympathetic to that idea but isn't too keen to say goodbye to its most lucrative show in years; and George R.R. Martin just wants to finish the book series that started years before the show but is about to be lapped by its own adaptation. At one point there was talk of concluding the show with a movie to both buy Martin more time and provide one last cash grab for the network, but delaying a TV show's conclusion for a big screen finale is pretty ridiculous. Movie talks were never taken seriously, but now George R.R .Martin just dropped the biggest surprise since the Red Wedding: a movie is indeed, actually happening.

While speaking with the Daily Star, George spilled the beans: "There will be a movie but I will not be involved. I have too much to do. That is something HBO and DB and David are dealing with. I have two more books to finish and I still have so much to do." It gets even crazier: it won't be a finale to the series, but rather a prequel of sorts. "They are looking at dipping back in time during certain periods of the series, which could be examined as a one off plot. That means that some of the big characters who fans have seen die on screen could be resurrected."

Wow. HBO is no stranger to movie spin-offs, word to Entourage and Sex and the City, but a Game of Thrones feature film would definitely be their biggest TV-to-theater jump yet. And it might include dearly departed favorites like the homie Ned Stark? While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, it looks like the Game of Thrones pop culture reign is far from winding down.

Continue Reading On Complex