One Game of Thrones prequel series won't be enough, as author George R.R. Martin confirms HBO has three more prequels in “active development.” There has been a flurry of interest regarding HBO’s plans for the future of its biggest series and, potentially, its biggest franchise, following news that the premium cabler is set to film the pilot for one of five potential spinoffs. Writer Jane Goldman (Kingsman, Stardust) will serve as showrunner on the as-yet untitled prequel series set in the distant past of Westeros, which promises an adventure far removed from the events of the series set to end in 2019.

Before Goldman’s new series was announced, HBO had as many as five potential prequels in active development. One of those potentials has been “shelved” but the other three are apparently still viable options for the network, either in the near future, or in the years to come. That’s not only good news for Thrones fans eager to see what other areas of Westeros’ past can be mined on television, but it’s also good news for HBO, as it faces increasing competition from the likes of Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, and will need such an ace up its sleeve if it’s going to stay relevant in the shifting, blockbuster-centric television landscape.

As for Martin, the author is quick to point out that while he’s consulted on the in-the-works prequel series, it’s really Goldman’s baby alone. While that leaves him free to work on the long-delayed The Winds of Winter (and to do promotion for SYFY’s Nightflyers), it also gives him some time to discuss on his blog how the wheels of progress are slowly turning with regard to other GoT shows.


“As for the other successor shows… if you have been following along, you know that we started with four, and eventually went to five. One of those has been shelved, I am given to understand, and of course Jane’s pilot is now moving to film. But that does not mean the others are dead. Three more GAME OF THRONES prequels, set in different periods and featuring different characters and storylines, remain in active development. Everything I am told indicates that we could film at least one more pilot, and maybe more than one, in the years to come. We do have an entire world and tens of thousands of years of history to play with, after all. But this is television, so nothing is certain.”

Martin’s right, “nothing is certain,” except for HBO’s desire to stay in the Game of Thrones business for as long as possible. That being said, if, for some reason, Goldman’s pilot doesn’t get picked up to series, it’s a good bet one of the three potential “successors” will be ready to go almost immediately. For now, though, fans will just have to wait and see what the future of the franchise looks like, and, of course, who will sit on the Iron Throne.