HBO scraps planned Game of Thrones spinoff


One of HBO's Game of Thrones prequels isn't coming after all.
The planned Thrones spinoff series starring Naomi Watts isn't moving forward, Deadline reported Tuesday. A pilot for the show was already shot over the summer after HBO ordered it in June 2018, but the network never picked up the full series, and now, it has reportedly decided not to do so.
The untitled prequel would have taken place thousands of years before the events of Thrones and followed "the world's descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour," exploring everything from "the horrifying secrets of Westeros' history to the true origin of the White Walkers" and "the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend," HBO previously said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Why HBO decided to suddenly scrap the project is unclear, but Deadline reports its demise comes "after a lengthy post-production and rumors about issues during filming in Northern Ireland." Considering original series creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss just coincidentally left a planned series of Star Wars films, it certainly hasn't been a great 24 hours for Thrones-adjacent projects.
That's not to say HBO is getting out of the Thrones spinoff game entirely, though. Just last month, news hit that another prequel series, with this one revolving around House Targaryen, was moving forward. In fact, at one point, not one but five spinoffs were in the works, and George R.R. Martin in May said three of them were "moving forward nicely." But as we just learned, when you play the game of pilots, you make it to air, or your show dies. There is no middle ground.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 19, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - free trade, judicial pushback, and more
By The Week US
-
5 educational cartoons about the Harvard pushback
Cartoons Artists take on academic freedom, institutional resistance, and more
By The Week US
-
One-pan black chickpeas with baharat and orange recipe
The Week Recommends This one-pan dish offers bold flavours, low effort and minimum clean up
By The Week UK
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US