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Game of Thrones
Genre	Medieval fantasy
Written by	George R. R. Martin (novels) David Benioff (series) Dan Weiss (series)
Country of origin	United States  United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	David Benioff Dan Weiss
Production location	Northern Ireland
Running time	approx. 60 min.
Original release
Network	HBO BBC

Game of Thrones is a planned medieval fantasy television series based on author George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. David Benioff and Dan Weiss are writing and producing the television adaptation. A pilot is currently being produced for HBO.

Production

Conception

Variety reported on 17 January 2007 that the rights for A Song of Ice and Fire have been sold to HBO with the intent of turning the novels into a television series. Written and executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the series is expected to cover one novel's worth of material per season. Martin plans to co-executive produce the series and is expected to write one episode per season. The series is likely to be filmed in the UK.

Martin reported in August 2007 that the first draft of the script was complete and stated in November that the script was approved and budgeting had begun. At this point the series had still not been officially greenlit, and the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike could have delayed the process.

In April 2008, David Benioff confirmed that development of the script and series was continuing. He suggested a 'crappy' tagline for the project could be, "The Sopranos in Middle-earth." In June, Martin reported in his blog that the second draft of the script was complete, but again a final decision had not been made. If the series were to go ahead, the BBC would also be financially involved much as they were for the HBO series Rome.

HBO exercised its option to buy the television rights to produce A Game of Thrones in September 2008. Martin was quick to point out the project had still not been greenlit, but that it was an encouraging first step. In November, Variety reported that HBO has committed to filming a pilot episode before a decision is made in regards to filming the entire first book of the series.

The shooting for the pilot will begin in October 2009 and take place in Northern Ireland.

On May 5, 2009 it was announced that Peter Dinklage has been signed on to star in the pilot and Tom McCarthy is set to direct.

Series overview

A Song of Ice and Fire follows three principal storylines, divided by geography and participants. It is believed that the television series will follow the storyline of the books closely. Martin has stated that the pilot script is very faithful.

The first storyline, set in the Seven Kingdoms themselves, chronicles a many-sided struggle for the Iron Throne that develops after King Robert Baratheon's death. The throne is claimed by his son Joffrey, supported by his mother's powerful family, House Lannister, but Lord Eddard Stark, King Robert's Hand, claims that Robert's children are illegitimate and product of incest between the Queen and her twin brother, and that the throne should fall to Robert's brother Stannis. Robert's youngest brother, Renly, also places a claim with the support of the extremely powerful House Tyrell. Whilst these three claimants battle for the Iron Throne, Robb Stark, Lord Eddard Stark's heir, is proclaimed King in the North as the northmen and their allies in the Riverlands seek to return to self-rule. Likewise, Balon Greyjoy also (re-)claims the ancient throne of his own region, the Iron Islands, with an eye towards independence. The War of the Five Kings is the principal storyline in the second and third novels, while the fourth novel concerns the realm's recovery in the face of the coming winter.

The second storyline is set on the extreme northern border of Westeros. Here, eight thousand years ago, a huge wall of ice and stone was constructed by both magic and labor to defend Westeros from the threat of The Others, a race of malevolent, supernatural ice creatures living in the uttermost north. This Wall, 300 miles (480 km) long and 700 feet (210 m) tall, is defended and maintained by the Sworn Brotherhood of the Night's Watch, whose primary duty is to guard against the Others, but by the time of the novels it is badly under-strength and has almost forgotten its original purpose, instead being threatened by the human 'wildlings' who live to the north. This storyline follows Jon Snow, bastard son of Eddard Stark, as he rises through the ranks of the Watch, learns the true nature of the threat from the north, and prepares to defend the realm from it, despite the fact that the people of Westeros are too busy warring to send support. By the end of the third volume, this storyline has become somewhat entangled with the civil war to the south with the arrival of one of the claimants to the Iron Throne after the defeat of his armies in battle.

The third storyline is set on the huge eastern continent and follows the journeys of Daenerys Targaryen, the last known scion of House Targaryen and another claimant to the Iron Throne, since her family was the ruling royal dynasty of Westeros 15 years before the beginning of the series, but was overthrown by Robert Baratheon in a bloody civil war. Daenerys's adventures showcase her growing ability, as she rises from a near-penniless wanderer to a powerful and canny conqueror who possesses the three last living dragons. Though her story is separated from the others by many thousands of miles, her stated goal is to reclaim the Iron Throne, and it is presumed she will travel to Westeros before the end of the series. While she has no memories of Westeros and is barely known there, she may still be welcomed: the chaos of two civil wars in rapid succession has led to much yearning among the smallfolk for the days of stability under the Targaryens.

Cast and characters

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister

Notes

1. Fleming, Michael (2008-01-16). "BO turns 'Fire' into fantasy series". Variety. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. Benioff, David (2008-11-19). "Hello from Benioff and Weiss". Westeros: The 'A Song of Ice and Fire' Domain. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
3. Hudson, Laura (2007-08-14). "Talking with George R. R. Martin Part 2". Publishers Weekly. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. Kirschling, Gregory (2007 November). "By George!". Entertainment Weekly. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. "City of Thieves, David Benioff". Words to Mouth. 2008-04-29. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. Kachka, Boris (2008-05-18), "Dungeon Master: David Benioff", New York Magazine, vol. 2008, no. May 26 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
7. Martin, George R. R. (2008-06-13). "Ice & Fire on HBO". Not a Blog. LiveJournal. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. Martin, George R. R. (2008-09-09). "News from HBO". Not a Blog. LiveJournal. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
9. Littleton, Cynthia (2008-11-11). "Fantasy sits on 'Thrones'". Variety. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
10. "HBO to film TV pilot in Northern Ireland" (Press release). Northern Ireland Executive. 2009-04-21. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. "Two will play HBO's 'Game'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2009-05-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
12. Martin, George R. R. (2008-01-11). "HBO options Ice & Fire". {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
13. Martin, George R. R. (2008-11-11). "Huge, Huge News". Not a Blog. LiveJournal. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• George R.R. Martin's Official Site — George R. R. Martin's website
• Westeros Forum — Game of Thrones: The Series — a discussion forum for casting and general speculation on the television series (Producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss sometimes post there under the username "David and Dan")
• Winter Is Coming — a blog following the production of HBO's A Song of Ice and Fire-based TV series, Game of Thrones
• Game of Thrones at IMDb

• 2000s American television series
• HBO network shows
• Fantasy television series
• Serial drama television series
• A Song of Ice and Fire