More Game Of Thrones Spinoffs Are Much Closer To Happening According To New Update

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin provides an update on plans for multiple animated spinoff shows based in his expansive fantasy world.
George R.R. Martin has given a fresh update on the long-gestating plans for a slate of animated spinoff shows set in the world of Game of Thrones. While HBO has already followed on from the success of its hit fantasy series with the prequel show House of the Dragon, it was previously reported that several other animated projects were also being developed with an eye to further expand upon the franchise. Yet, despite the positive reception enjoyed by House of the Dragon season 1, further news regarding the status of the franchise’s proposed animated outings has been scarce since they were first announced.
Most recently, however, Martin took to his personal website to explain that while none of the Game of Thrones animated shows have been officially greenlit, he believes that “we are getting close to taking the next step with a couple of them.” Despite originally setting out with plans for four separate shows, with scripts and outlines developed for each, the author revealed that two projects have since been shelved. However, Martin suggests that work on the remaining two shows continues and will also be joined by work on an animated Nine Voyages show that was originally planned as a live-action series. Check out his comments below:
As it happens, HBO and I have our own animated projects, set in the world of A SONG OF ICE & FIRE. None of them have been greenlit yet, but I think we are getting close to taking the next step with a couple of them. When this last round of development started a few years back, we had four ideas for animated shows, with some great talents attached. Writers rooms and summits, outline and scripts followed in due course… but, alas, two of the original projects were subsequently shelved.

Work on the other two animated projects continues to apace, however…and meanwhile, we have moved NINE VOYAGES, our series about the legendary voyages of the Sea Snake, over from live action to animation. A move I support fully. Budgetary constraints would likely have made a live action version prohibitively expensive, what with half the show taking place at sea, and the necessity of creating a different port every week, from Driftmark to Lys to the Basilisk Isles to Volantis to Qarth to… well, on and on and on. There’s a whole world out there. And we have a lot better chance of showing it all with animation. So we now have three animated projects underway.
How Interconnected Fantasy Franchises Could Replace Hollywood’s Preoccupation With Superheroes
While Hollywood has had a long and storied history of bringing fantasy stories to life long before the celebrated 2011 debut of Game of Thrones, there is no doubt that Martin’s complex and arresting tale sets a new benchmark for the genre. Reigniting widespread interest in far-flung tales of magic and intrigue, several other studios will scramble to capitalize on HBO’s unprecedented success story and establish their own high-budget fantasy shows.
Having already set the stage for the emergence of other popular shows such as Netflix’s The Witcher and Amazon’s Wheel of Time and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, with HBO potentially looking to further expand on its Game of Thrones franchise, it is possible that interconnected fantasy properties could potentially take over from Hollywood’s current preoccupation with superhero franchises. With adaptations spanning both live-action and animated formats, the richly detailed backdrops of properties Martin’s Westeros and Tolkien’s Middle-earth could potentially rival the appeal and longevity of franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Furthermore, with the recent struggles experienced by both Marvel and DC’s more recent outings, many commentators are already beginning to question whether Hollywood’s superhero bubble is about to burst. Should audiences continue to shy away from superhero movies and shows in even greater numbers, perhaps HBO’s and Martin’s plans to continue building on Game of Thrones could spark a new pop-culture obsession with expansive, interconnected fantasy worlds instead.