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Revision as of 09:27, 23 March 2009 by 60.242.246.76 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Multi-national TV series or program| 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 | 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. The show is currently in the process of filming a pilot 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.
Benioff has confirmed that shooting for the pilot will begin in October 2009 and be based in Ireland.
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.
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, despite the lack of support from the nobles of Westeros.
The third storyline is set on the huge eastern continent and follows the journeys of Daenerys Targaryen, the last (known) scion of House Targaryen. 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.
Cast and characters
See also: List of characters in A Song of Ice and FireNotes
- Fleming, Michael (2008-01-16). "BO turns 'Fire' into fantasy series". Variety.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - 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) - Hudson, Laura (2007-08-14). "Talking with George R. R. Martin Part 2". Publishers Weekly.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Kirschling, Gregory (2007 November). "By George!". Entertainment Weekly.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "City of Thieves, David Benioff". Words to Mouth. 2008-04-29.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - 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) - Martin, George R. R. (2008-06-13). "Ice & Fire on HBO". Not a Blog. LiveJournal.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Martin, George R. R. (2008-09-09). "News from HBO". Not a Blog. LiveJournal.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Littleton, Cynthia (2008-11-11). "Fantasy sits on 'Thrones'". Variety.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Winter Is Coming
- Martin, George R. R. (2008-01-11). "HBO options Ice & Fire".
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - 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
