Game Of Thrones’ Targaryen Prequel Gets Encouraging Writing Update After 1 Year Of Silence

The Game of Thrones prequel spinoff, Aegon’s Conquest, has had very few concrete updates so far, but the show’s writer recently answered some burning questions about King Targaryen’s upcoming story. Despite the dismal reception of Game of Thrones’ final season, George R.R. Martin’s Westeros remains a major TV draw, with the Targaryen-focused House of the Dragon working towards a season 3 release.

The Targaryens are a popular dynasty. The dragon-riding family is still so popular, in fact, that in April 2023, HBO announced another Targaryen-centric spinoff was in the works, this one set 100 years before the events of House of the Dragon. It will detail Aegon the First’s bloody and violent quest to unite the Seven Kingdoms under the Targaryen banner alongside his wives, Rhaenys and Visenya.

Aegon’s Conquest is being developed and written by Mattson Tomlin (Terminator Zero). Tomlin previously revealed Martin was providing valuable insight into Westeros’s history and politics. Now, while answering a series of fan questions on the social media platform X, Tomlin confirmed that Martin is still involved, that he’s done “lots” of writing for the show, and that his favorite scene is the “opening scene.”

What This Means For Aegon’s Conquest

The Show Is Still Actively In Development

Although there’s still no word of a release window or even a cast, Tomlin’s updates confirm the show is still in active development. Given the building anticipation for House of the Dragon season 3 and the importance of Aegon’s brutal war in Westeros’ timeline, Aegon’s Conquest could tie the entire Game of Thrones universe together.

King Aegon only set out on his conquest because he had a prophetic dream, one that told him that a Targaryen ruler would one day sit on the Iron Throne, unite the Seven Kingdoms, and wage war against the North’s White Walkers. Aegon’s dream is key for Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. It directly affects Rhaenyra Targaryen’s, Jon Snow’s, and Daenerys Targaryen’s character arcs.

Our Take On Aegon’s Conquest

HBO Needs To Move Quickly

House of the Dragon’s popularity revived the Game of Thrones franchise. There’s real interest in Aegon’s character and his role in Westeros’s ever-shifting history now, and HBO should capitalize on this. With the news that several previously announced Game of Thrones prequels have been canceled or delayed indefinitely – Jon Snow, 10,000 Ships, and Flea Bottom, for instance – pushing forward with Aegon’s Conquest is arguably the best course of action.

There are still a few other spinoffs seemingly in development, too, namely the animated series Nine Voyages starring Corlys Velaryon. There’s also A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is planned for release in 2026. Yet, Aegon’s Conquest is the most exciting prospect of the lot; if HBO can make that work, Westeros will once again become unstoppable.