In practice, however, it’s a different story. A movie doesn’t just need to convince people to watch it on HBO, where it’s an established TV franchise, but to pay even more to turn out for the big screen experience. To that end, there aren’t as many options. In terms of story, I think Aegon’s Conquest could be a great movie and perhaps appeal to audiences. Continuing after Game of Thrones‘ ending would have appeal, though there are risks involved. But one of the best-of-both-worlds options, that would be an almost guaranteed success, is the prequel story that defines Game of Thrones.
A Robert’s Rebellion Movie Would Be A Huge Draw
It Would Have Mass Appeal For A Game Of Thrones Movie
Robert’s Rebellion is the biggest story, as it relates to Game of Thrones directly, that we haven’t yet seen on screen. Ok, we’ve had a few glimpses through flashbacks or visions, but for the most part it only exists as words either spoken or written on the page. And make no mistake, this is the biggest Game of Thrones story, because it defines just about everything we see in that show, from Jon Snow’s parentage and being raised by Ned Stark, to Daenerys Targaryen being in Essos, to the line of Baratheon kings, and beyond.
There is no event so crucial to Game of Thrones, that isn’t already in Game of Thrones, as Robert’s Rebellion. And a movie could market itself as such, not unlike, say, the Star Wars prequels did as being the story of Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader. That would, in my mind, create the widest possible audience for a Thrones movie: the promise of young Ned, young Jaime Lannister, young Robert Baratheon, the Mad King, et al, and how it all really played out, is a tantalizing tease that plays to the broadest demographic of anyone with even a slight interest.
The only thing that could be bigger is a direct continuation of the main show; essentially, Game of Thrones season 9, but make it a movie. However, while that probably would be huge, it carries more of an inherent risk: the backlash to season 8 could risk putting off potential audiences, and simultaneously there’d be a chance of further damaging the show’s legacy, which already took a blow with its divisive ending. Robert’s Rebellion, in contrast, plays to the safer, more beloved era of Thrones. Aegon’s Conquest could also be a hit, but I don’t think it’d be as big.
That way, there could be two pretty exciting movies that can offer some great battles, dive into the political landscape, offer the shock-and-horror of the Mad King’s actions, and flesh out characters more, especially Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark’s romance.
Again, I’d still rather see Aegon’s Conquest, and two Game of Thrones movies about Robert’s Rebellion may be getting ahead of ourselves. Nonetheless, it would be a good way to make this work, and ensure bringing Westeros to a big screen is a big success.
Why George R.R. Martin Didn’t Want A Robert’s Rebellion Adaptation
The Author Has His Own Plans For The Story
One potential wrinkle in this is George R.R. Martin himself. The author is involved, either directly or indirectly, with the franchise on the screen, and previously hasn’t been keen on Robert’s Rebellion being adapted. Back in 2017, when HBO was beginning to develop Game of Thrones spinoffs, he ruled it out in his Not A Blog site, writing:
“We’re not doing Robert’s Rebellion either. I know thousands of you want that, I know there’s a petition… but by the time I finish writing A SONG OF ICE & FIRE, you will know every important thing that happened in Robert’s Rebellion. There would be no surprises or revelations left in such a show, just the acting out of conflicts whose resolutions you already know. That’s not a story I want to tell just now; it would feel too much like a twice-told tale.”
That’s an understandable viewpoint, but with a movie of some kind in early development, and The Winds of Winter‘s release date still nowhere in sight, it may not necessarily be one that still holds true today. It’s certainly not wrong that the story will be told, and there’s a different argument about whether it’s the right choice for a movie, but if I were at WB, it’s definitely one I’d be eyeing as a very lucrative choice.
Could Robert’s Rebellion Work As A Movie?
It’d Be A Hit, But Is It The Right Choice?
It would just about be possible to do a 3-hour Robert’s Rebellion movie that tells the story in full, going from character introductions and the Tourney at Harrenhal, through to the Sack of King’s Landing and Tower of Joy scenes (where the Mad King is killed and Jon Snow is born), hitting a couple of battles and other key beats along the way. The problem there, of course, is it would likely end up feeling rather rushed.
Two movies could actually be ideal for Robert’s Rebellion, allowing for greater character development, spacing of events, and ensuring all the key moments are visited (perhaps with some new surprises thrown in), without dragging things out too much. A trilogy may sound more appealing and typical of a franchise approach, and isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but in truth, two could be plenty.
That way, there could be two pretty exciting movies that can offer some great battles, dive into the political landscape, offer the shock-and-horror of the Mad King’s actions, and flesh out characters more, especially Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark’s romance.
Again, I’d still rather see Aegon’s Conquest, and two Game of Thrones movies about Robert’s Rebellion may be getting ahead of ourselves. Nonetheless, it would be a good way to make this work, and ensure bringing Westeros to a big screen is a big success.
