'Game of Thrones' Robbed? George R.R. Martin Reveals He 'Lost' 2 More Seasons to HBO
"Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin reveals that the series adaptation centered on the seven kingdoms of Westeros was originally planned for at least 10 seasons.
With the recent release of the much-awaited prequel, "The House of the Dragon", fans are once again hyped to return to George R.R. Martin's universe.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the "A Song of Fire and Ice" author talked about his vision for the prequel and his control over the franchise, or lack thereof. Martin shared that he had campaigned for more seasons for "Game of Thrones" to live up to his book series' storytelling and development.
"I was saying it needs to be 10 seasons at least and maybe 12, 13. I lost that one," he explained.
Ultimately, the director expressed that he did not have much influence on HBO's decision. Although "Game of Thrones" was an excellent hit for HBO, garnering Emmy awards and a massive fanbase over the years, co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss ended the series after 8 seasons.
Fans Share George R.R. Martin's Sentiments
Similar to Martin's vision, many fans share the same sentiment on the show feeling rushed after "Game of Thrones" season 8 finale premiered in 2019.
A review by Digital Spy stated: "One of the most common criticisms facing these last episodes is that they feel like a mad dash to the finish. From the surprise early vanquishing of the Night King to Jaime and Brienne's abbreviated love affair to Daenerys's rapid descent into madness, the whole thing's felt rather rushed."
This common criticism even led to nearly 2 million fans signing a petition named "Remake Game of Thrones Season 8 with competent writers" going viral at the time.
Will Martin Save "House of the Dragon"?
While the "Game of Thrones" author admitted that he did not have much influence on how the series franchise originally turned out, he stated that he has better control on this year's prequel season.
"I had no contribution to the later seasons except, you know, inventing the world, the story and all the characters," he explained. "I believe I have more influence now on 'House of the Dragon' than I did on the original show."
The first episode of "House of the Dragon" premiered on August 21, and can be streamed on HBO Max.
