Official Game of Thrones (HBO) thread

[Phoenix Dark]

HBO has given a pilot order to fantasy project "Game of Thrones."

The program is based on George R.R. Martin’s bestselling series of novels "A Song of Fire & Ice" and executive produced by David Benioff ("Troy"), D.B. Weiss ("Halo") and Guymon Casady ("Hope & Faith"). The title “Game of Thrones” is from the first novel in the series.

If greenlit, “Thrones” would represent the rarest of TV genres: a full-fledged fantasy series.

Though broadcasters have embraced sci-fi-tinged shows in recent years following the success of ABC’s “Lost” and NBC’s “Heroes,” and supernatural themes have been given a spin by CW’s “Supernatural” and HBO’s own “True Blood,” high fantasy is nearly nonexistent in primetime TV history -- and “Thrones” is an unabashed member of the genre. The books have swords, dragons, magic, the works.

“Fantasy is the most successful genre in terms of feature films given the incredible popularity of ‘Lord of the Rings’ and Harry Potter movies,” Benioff said. “High fantasy has never been done on TV before and if anybody can do it, it’s HBO. They’ve taken tired genres and reinvented them -- mobsters in ‘The Sopranos’ and Westerns with ‘Deadwood.’”

The cost of producing a fantasy series is usually a big factor that deters networks. The producers note “Thrones” is written as a character drama and major battles often take place off stage.

“It’s not a story with a million orcs charging across the plains,” Weiss said. “The most expensive effects are creature effects and there’s not much of that.”

Martin plans seven books in the series. The producers intend for each season to span one novel.

But before the series can get on the air, the producers first have to slay a more formidable threat than any dragon: pilot competitors. HBO has 10 other pilots in contention for series orders. Though the network declines to project how many shows will receive an order since HBO doesn’t need to fill a specific number of time-periods like broadcasters, at least six are expected to get a pickup.

Also, the success of “True Blood” may work in “Thrones'” favor. HBO has always sought to defy any sort of specific genre branding for their network, emphasizing that each project is judged on its own merits. Yet given how the vampire drama continues to gain viewers, and how Showtime’s swords-and-monarchy historical drama “The Tudors” has performed strongly, it’s not unreasonable to believe the network may see “Thrones” as a good fit.

Previous fantasy titles on TV are few and far between. ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” might qualify as a member of the genre, though its fantastical elements are wrapped in a modern day crime procedural. ABC Family’s “Kyle XY” could fit. Some would consider the WB’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fantasy, though supernatural drama is probably a more appropriate term. Former syndicated program “Xena Warrior Princess,” however, is firmly in the genre. NBC’s upcoming “Kings” also qualifies.

"Swords and sorcerers are more the province of movies -- and kid's TV cartoons -- than of prime time series," said TV historian Tim Brooks. "There are occasional attempts, such as the syndicated 'Conan: The Television Series' and 'The Adventures of Sinbad,' and the various revivals of Robin Hood sometimes included magic. But none of TV's big hits, that I can think of, fall into this category. Adult viewers prefer characters they can relate to."

Some thoughts: I suspect a fair number of viewers are going to love this idea -- a high fantasy series with a grown-up budget and no content restrictions? Not even the hugely popular movie franchises cited by the producers have offered such a prospect, because no studio greenlights a fantasy budget without the promise of a PG-13 rating. Combined with "True Blood," this also suggests an interesting, AintItCoolNews-targeted direction for the network. Less edgy-PBS, more R-rated Comic Con.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/11/hbo-orders-fant.html

Martin speaks:

HBO has given the production order.

They will be filming the pilot episode of A GAME OF THRONES.

It's just the pilot so far. They'll need to see that before they decide whether to proceed with a full season's episodes. So let's all hope the pilot will kick serious ass.

It should. David Benioff and Dan Weiss did a terrific job with the script. And yes, all of you can relax, it's very faithful. Dan and David will be the executive producers for the pilot and (we hope) the eventual series.

More details when I have 'em. The news is very fresh. HBO just issued their own press release, which should be up on their website soon, if it's not there already.

Winter is coming to HBO. Hot damn.

http://grrm.livejournal.com/
Now finish ADWD please

Time for totally ridiculous casting speculation

Dakota Fanning: Dany
The Rock: Drogo
my loins will explode 

[BlueTsunami]

AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

                                                                            

I am so psyched for this! Now we need A Dance with Dragons  :'( Maybe RR was waiting for this to go through to announce the release of the next book?

[Phoenix Dark]

TOTALLY RIDICULOUS CASTING

Liam Neeson - Ned Stark

[BlueTsunami]

FOMG, or Jeremy Irons

TOTALLY RIDICULOUS CASTING

Liam Neeson - Ned Stark
(Image removed from quote.)

OMFG

Or Jeremy Irons!



Both would give me a hard junk though

[Joe Molotov]

 

[Phoenix Dark]

Irons is probably too intense to play Stark. Ned should be played by someone I could cuddle with, no homo.

Blond Irons: Tywin?

[ShogunOfFear]

Holy Shit this is really happening!  Can't wait I just started 'A Feast For Crows', what an amazing series.

(Image removed from quote.)

Ned Stark wouldn't wear no bloody kilt 

Now who should play Cersei?   

[Phoenix Dark]

Cersei 

[BlueTsunami]

Blond Irons: Tywin?

omfg

[ShogunOfFear]

Cersei art stolen from gaf.


Can't wait to see Jaime tap that ass

[Phoenix Dark]

Peter Dinklage=Tyrion

[Human Snorenado]

Pfft.  Dance with Dragons will NEVER come out, fools.  I will be reading the tenth and final book of the superior Malazan series in a little over a year, and Martin will choke to death on a pizza while revising a boring Sansa chapter.  Book it.

[Phoenix Dark]

FUCK YOU

spoiler (click to show/hide)

it'll come out next year but I'm not confident about him finishing the series. 

[close]

[Human Snorenado]

You need to get off yer duff and read the Malazan books already, Pee Dee.

[Phoenix Dark]

I've got so much shit on my backlist. And everyone (EXCEPT YOU) says the first book is meh

I read some of the beginning and it wasn't bad but...

[Human Snorenado]

The first 2/3 of Gardens of the Moon is meh, but the endgame is FUCK AWESOME.

I'm not even really sure how I'd rank all of the Malazan books.  Each one has something cool about it.

Gardens of the Moon:  suffers from throwing you into the middle of the action without explaining a lot of what is going on, but by the time you start to figure a few things out it becomes fuck awesome.  Also, QUICK BEN.
Deadhouse Gates:  Where the hell did Whiskeyjack go?  Oh, never mind- COLTAINE.  You also get to find out more about Fiddler and Kalam, which is cool.
Memories of Ice:  Back to the Bridgeburners and Whiskeyjack.  Probably the best book in the series but suffers a bit from the Mhybe storyline.
House of Chains:  Karsa Orlong.  'nuff said one you get off your ass and read about him.  Also introduces Tavore.
Midnight Tides:  Serious departure from the other books- takes place on a different continent mostly in a flashback.  But introduces perhaps the two funniest characters in a fantasy series- Tehol and Bugg.
Bonehunters:  uneven but engaging.  More Ganoes Paran and Fiddler.  The battle at Y'Ghatan is probably one of the best in the series, which is saying something.
Reaper's Gale:  even more uneven but still pretty awesome, because Tehol and Bugg are back, and Karsa Orlong has his showdown with the Emperor of a Thousand Deaths.  "I will kill him- once."
Toll the Hounds:  very well paced and written- back to the earlier high standard of the series in lots of ways, including a welcome return to Capustan, the setting of the first book.  An absolutely cataclysmic fight at the end.

[muckhole]

I'll really have to give the Malazan books another go, then. I got about half way through the first, put it down, and just never went back. Never grabbed me.

[Phoenix Dark]

I'll really have to give the Malazan books another go, then. I got about half way through the first, put it down, and just never went back. Never grabbed me.

Not lookin' good Triumph. Haven't found anyone to co-sign the series as anything more than an extravagant pile of ideas jumbled together with little to no explanation, cohesion, or characters worth caring about.

Malazan=The Mars Volta of fantasy

[Human Snorenado]

I'll really have to give the Malazan books another go, then. I got about half way through the first, put it down, and just never went back. Never grabbed me.

Not lookin' good Triumph. Haven't found anyone to co-sign the series as anything more than an extravagant pile of ideas jumbled together with little to no explanation, cohesion, or characters worth caring about.

Malazan=The Mars Volta of fantasy

Shut up you simpering dolt, you think Forrest Gump is a good movie.

[Phoenix Dark]

I'm gonna give it a try don't worry, it's only like $9 at Borders so I have no excuse. I'm just sayin' what I've heard so far hasn't been good. I liked the part I read

spoiler (click to show/hide)

basically some chick watching soldiers marching to war before getting owned by some old wench

[close]

but my hopes aren't high. I like fantasy books with characters I give a shit about. Badasses are cool but they don't bring home the bacon for me

[Human Snorenado]

Pfft.  There are plenty of characters to care about, not everyone is a bad ass.  Fiddler in particular is at the core of a lot of the series.  Plus, since Erickson is actually able to, you know, write books on a regular basis you get to see the progression of characters over the course of the series.  A lot of people grow into their bad assery.

[Phoenix Dark]

Thanks again to everyone who has posted their casting suggestions and a special thanks to our excellent hosts here on the board for their synopses, which save us a great deal of time. It is encouraging to see that our actor/character ideas often match those of the board, and it is helpful to learn about a whole slew of actors we weren't familiar with before.

The age of the actors is a significant issue; trust us that this is something we've discussed with George since our earliest conversations (well over two years ago). None of the characters will be radically aged.

The location has not yet been finalized, but we're getting close. With any luck, George will be giving you an answer to that question before the end of the year, or very early in 2009.

Shooting dates have also not been determined yet. We're impatient, too, but as you can imagine this is an elaborate production, with large sets to be built, a huge cast to be filled, etc.

For those who would like to send resumes, videos, etc.: we hope to have a casting director in place within the next month. When we do, we'll let you know his/her name and where materials should be sent.

One last thing: our focus at the moment is on casting the pilot. So we're only worried about characters who appear in the pilot. Just so you know the pilot parameters, here's the first line of dialogue:

"We should start back."

And here's the last line:

"The things I do for love."

Sound familiar?

We think you're going to like it...

D&D

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?showtopic=32275&st=80&p=1607351&#entry1607351

Holy shit, so the pilot will cover

spoiler (click to show/hide)

-The prologue ("we should start back"): introduce of the Others
-Important events afterward: discovery of the direwolves, King's arrival in Winterfell, etc
-Bran's injury ("things I do for love")

[close]

[Eric P]

that's about where i stopped and gave up for greener pastures.

[Phoenix Dark]

So around the point where Eddard decided to take the Hand position? I remember you posting about it in the GAF thread

[Eric P]

yeah right around there.

longer fantasy works just don't hold my interest.

[Phoenix Dark]

Update

The GAF poster Gunshot has a blog that covers all Game of Thrones news/info. He recently got a huge scoop: some insider sent him the 60 page pilot script. He did the smart thing by not posting it for all to see but he did offer a synopsis. It closely matches what the producers stated the pilot would look like:

As already mentioned by Benioff and Weiss, we open with the prologue. Waymar, Gared and Will ranging beyond the wall when they are set up by Others.

After the prologue, the credit sequence. A raven is sent from Castle Black to King's Landing. As it flies over Westeros we see the map, the raven dips down over points of interest (Winterfell, The Eyrie, etc.) and the map fades from view to show the actual castles. Eventually, the raven flies into the Red Keep and lands on the Iron Throne. End credits.

Next the beheading scene. Plays out almost exactly like the book, down to Theon kicking the disembodied head. Then the direwolf pups are discovered.

Cut to Dany in Pentos. Viserys and her discuss the wedding and his plan to retake Westeros. Illyrio introduces Viserys and Daenerys to Drogo.

Next, we jump to King's Landing. The lifeless body of Jon Arryn on his deathbed. Cersei and Pycelle discuss his final words. "The seed is strong." Cut to a brothel. Tyrion is enjoying the company of one the "employees" there. Jaime barges in, tells him they are heading to Winterfell.

Cut to Catelyn and Ned in the godswood, they talk about the King coming to Winterfell. The King and his party arrive. Robert and Ned go down to the crypts to talk. Next scene, the feast in the Great Hall. There is an exchange between Ned and Jaime that wasn't in the book. Jon and Benjen talk about the Night's Watch. Tyrion and Jon talk about bastards. Cut to Catelyn and Ned in their bedchamber. They receive the message from Lysa. Ned decides to accept the King's offer. The next day, we see the Stark and Lannister boys at their sword play. All these scenes play out very closely to the book, with the exception of the Ned-Jaime encounter, albeit condensed quite a bit.

Cut back to Pentos. Drogo and Dany's wedding feast. We see some dancing, some raping, some killing. The gifts are given. Dany and Drogo consummate the marriage.

Back to Winterfell, Robert and Ned speak before leaving to go on a hunt. Bran climbs. Spys Jaime and Cersei in the act. "The things I do for love." Fade to black.

http://winter-is-coming.blogspot.com/2008/12/winter-is-comings-exclusive-pilot.html
 

Some analysis from the site

A few more details I found interesting. Regarding ages, Jon and Robb are listed as 17 in the script, Sansa as 13, Arya 11 and Bran as 8, Dany is listed as 15. All the other children seemed to be the same age as in the books. Was a bit odd when a 13-year old Joffrey was acting like a 17-year old Robb was no match for him. Also, the credit sequence, this very idea was proposed over at the Westeros forums. I wonder if David & Dan took it from there? Or if they had it in the script already? My script doesn't have a date on it so I don't know for sure. Also, no flashbacks. I think the history of the world is established well, even without the flashbacks. We get pieces of the story of the Rebellion, Robert and Lyanna, the Mad King, etc. through dialogue between characters and not through flashbacks or exposition. This is the way it should be though and it works well.

Sounds really  good. I really like the details on scenes that aren't featured in the book, mainly concerning Tyrion and Jaime. Introducing Tyrion in a brothel is a great idea.

Also adding a Jamie/Ned conversation at the banquet sounds very interesting.

[recursivelyenumerable]

I couldn't get more than three pages in

the prose style is 

[Phoenix Dark]

I couldn't get more than three pages in

the prose style is 

err what? What didn't you like about it

[Phoenix Dark]

megaton

Tom McCarthy has come aboard to direct HBO's fantasy pilot "Game of Thrones," on which the star of his first feature, "The Station Agent's" Peter Dinklage, has been tapped for a key role.

Based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling "Songs of Fire and Ice" novels, "Thrones" is described as an epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom. Dinklage will play Tyrion, the Queen's brother who is treated as an outsier because of his size.

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss penned the pilot script and are exec producing. HBO Entertainment president-turned-producer Carolyn Strauss, Management 360's Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, Ralph Vicinanza and Martin serve as co-exec producers, and Mark Huffam and Frank Doelger are producers.

"Thrones" is slated to film in the third quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in what the country's First Minister Peter Robinson hails as "the first TV production of such vast size and scale that has been filmed in Northern Ireland."

Dinklage, repped by manager David Ginsberg and attorney Karl Austen, is filming two features: the indie "Pete Smalls Is Dead," which he also co-produces, and Screen Gems/Sidney Kimmel's remake of "Death at a Funeral."

"Thrones" marks the first TV directorial gig for the Gersh-repped McCarthy, an actor who wrote and directed two features, 2003's "Station Agent" and 2007's "The Visitor," both of which landed him Indie Spirit Awards. On the acting side, McCarthy next appears in "2012."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i30b29365238b3652295a5a9e328518de

 

Peter Dinklage, wow they got it right. Fucking perfect for Tyrion

[Howard Alan Treesong]

zzzzz ha hork listening

[Draft]

Little old for Tyrion.

But I bet most of the actors will be 10+ years older than the characters they're playing.

[Phoenix Dark]

Age won't be a problem consider he's supposed to be ugly as sin.

[Cyanista]

What sort of complaint can you actually lob at GRR's prose?  It's concise and accessible, RARELY purple.  I mean, for a fantasy writer, he pretty much has that on lockdown.

[Tauntaun]

What sort of complaint can you actually lob at GRR's prose?  It's concise and accessible, RARELY purple.  I mean, for a fantasy writer, he pretty much has that on lockdown.

You've been away for awhile so perhaps you've forgotten EB's elitism.  DESU NE??!!?? 

[Phoenix Dark]

Actually more EBers who've read it like it. Any negativity is aimed more at some of the sexual shit in the books, plus Martin's "laziness"

[Tauntaun]

Actually more EBers who've read it like it. Any negativity is aimed more at some of the sexual shit in the books, plus Martin's "laziness"

What are there mad penises up that piece? 

[Human Snorenado]

Actually more EBers who've read it like it. Any negativity is aimed more at some of the sexual shit in the books, plus Martin's "laziness"

Also the fact that it's not as good as the Malazan books.

[Cheebs]

I could never read these books after randomly seeing him at a book signing. He was so fat...and smelly.

[Phoenix Dark]

Actually more EBers who've read it like it. Any negativity is aimed more at some of the sexual shit in the books, plus Martin's "laziness"

Also the fact that it's not as good as the Malazan books.

*insert typical I'll Give It a Try post*

My friends say it's good, but a giant mess.

[Human Snorenado]

It's lost some traction in the last two books, but it's no where NEAR gigantic mess status, which I have always taken to mean "Wheel of Time".

[Phoenix Dark]

mess in terms of a bunch of shit randomly going on. Awesome concepts thrown in and out at rapid speed, leaving the book as a whole feeling shallow.

[Human Snorenado]

Yeah, your friends are dumb.  The first book does start in the middle of events already set into motion, but if you pay attention and aren't a fucktard you can pick up what's going on easily enough.  And yes, some things that happen in some books aren't fully explained until later volumes in the series, but oh fucking well, go cry a river you whiny bitches.

[Cyanista]

Wheel of time is unreadable tripe, straight up.  Someone raved about it to me in jr. high, and I was already over it.  I didn't even finish one book, which is really rare for me.  I have read some serious garbage, just because I hate leaving books unfinished.

That said, the sex in GRRM's books is a little..daunting.  I got the feeling he hasn't had much of it in real life, from reading it.  The rest of the story I ate up, though.  Read them fast and wanted more. 

Sure, any 900 page book you can read in a couple of days isn't exactly expanding your mind power, but they were imminently readable and I can't wait for the next one.

[Cyanista]

Yeah, your friends are dumb.  The first book does start in the middle of events already set into motion, but if you pay attention and aren't a fucktard you can pick up what's going on easily enough.  And yes, some things that happen in some books aren't fully explained until later volumes in the series, but oh fucking well, go cry a river you whiny bitches.

Ok I haven't read these books, but I'd like to point out that plot holes are generally believed to be a bad thing.

[Phoenix Dark]

Yea, the series was just up my alley. I still find myself randomly thinking about certain parts, wondering what a character should or shouldn't have done.

ASOS spoiler:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

usually relating to Robb. And I've come to the conclusion that there wasn't anything he could have done to reach a different conclusion

[close]

ADWD is going to be fuck awesome.

[Human Snorenado]

Yeah, your friends are dumb.  The first book does start in the middle of events already set into motion, but if you pay attention and aren't a fucktard you can pick up what's going on easily enough.  And yes, some things that happen in some books aren't fully explained until later volumes in the series, but oh fucking well, go cry a river you whiny bitches.

Ok I haven't read these books, but I'd like to point out that plot holes are generally believed to be a bad thing.

I'm not really referring to plot holes, I'm more referencing some character that will be introduced briefly in a minor role in one book and come back in a later volume where you get to find out who they really are, what they're really doing, etc.

[Phoenix Dark]

Sean Bean as Ned Stark. Holy shit 

plus more casting
http://grrm.livejournal.com/95840.html

[recursivelyenumerable]

err what? What didn't you like about it

it's wayyyyyyyy overripe.

[cubicle47b]

I read the first and part of the second book in the Malazan series.  It didn't grab me.  I have gotten tired of waiting around for the fifth ASoIaF book, though.  So much so that I think R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing / Aspect-Emperor series has eclipsed it as my favorite.  After reading The Judging Eye I decided to go back and re-read the original trilogy.  So fucking good.

[Phoenix Dark]

Martin has been updating his blog about the book more often than usual lately. At Finncon last week he said he thinks the can finish the book by October or so, which means a spring 2010 release; he didn't promise or write that in stone though, for obvious reasons. I'm confident it'll be done soon. But then again, I was confident it would come out this year.

Nice casting with Joffery - Gordon's son from BB/TDK. I already hate him 

[BlueTsunami]

Holy shit, Sean Bean is perfectly casted as Ned

[Himu]

can't wait to get a boner watching this

[Phoenix Dark]

Jennifer Ehle has been cast as Catelyn Stark. :

Most of you will know her best from her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC's miniseries of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE in 1995, but she's got all sorts of other credits, she's won a BAFTA Award and two Tonys, and she will be a wonderful Catelyn.

http://grrm.livejournal.com/

I like it. She's no Gilligan Anderson lol, but it sounds like she's a great actress and she definitely has the motherly look I had in mind for Catelyn.

NSFW:
http://www.videobomb.cz/video/Jennifer_Ehle
 

[BlueTsunami]

They're taking in some partly obscure but awesome actors. Good signs so far.

[Mandark]

The '95 Pride and Prejudice miniseries was awful, and Ehle was awful in it.   

[Great Rumbler]

The '95 Pride and Prejudice miniseries was awful, and Ehle was awful in it.   

Whaaaaat?

[Mandark]

Yeah I said it.  Fuck a Colin Firth.

[Great Rumbler]

Yeah I said it.  Fuck a Colin Firth.

 

[TakingBackSunday]

I started reading this series today 

[Reb]

Yeah, I hate sex too.