- The Game of Thrones prequel that would star Naomi Watts and focus on the Age of Heroes will not become a series at HBO, according to multiple outlets.
- Deadline reported that the news follows "lengthy post-production" and rumored filming issues, while The Hollywood Reporter cited sources who said HBO "wasn't thrilled with the final cut" of the pilot, which was filmed this summer.
- Another potential prequel about the Targaryens, for which HBO is reportedly ordering a pilot, still seems to be alive.
The Naomi Watts–starring Game of Thrones prequel show is not moving forward at HBO, according to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. The potential series was written by Kingsman's Jane Goldman and A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin. Goldman reportedly emailed her staff to inform them of the news, which HBO has not yet publicly confirmed.
According to Deadline, the latest developments arrive "after a lengthy post-production … and rumors about issues during filming in Northern Ireland." Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss also ran into similar issues while filming the pilot of the original series, the trade reported.
Adds THR, "Sources say HBO wasn't thrilled with the final cut of the Watts–led pilot and asked for changes in edits before scrapping the entire thing." Entertainment Weekly had reportedly learned of plans to scrap the show "weeks ago." It's unclear if it's possible that another network could pick up the series.
An ensemble cast was already announced for the show (including Watts as the lead), and filming for the pilot had already wrapped this summer, according to the network's programming president, Casey Bloys. HBO had also shared a synopsis for the fantasy spin-off, which would have taken place thousands of years before the events in the original Game of Thrones plot. Although the series was still untitled, it would have documented the Age of Heroes, a legendary era in Martin's saga, according to the official summary.
"Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. From the horrifying secrets of Westeros's history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, only one thing is for sure: It's not the story we think we know."
Not all hope is lost in the GoT universe, however. In September, Entertainment Weekly reported that HBO was close to ordering a pilot for another potential prequel series, this one about the history of House Targaryen, written by Ryan Condal and executive-produced by George R. R. Martin.
