HBO is moving ahead with its fantasy epic Game of Thrones. Tom McCarthy (The Visitor, The Station Agent) will direct the pilot, which David Benioff and D.B. Weiss adapted from the George R.R. Martin novels. HBO has given the go-ahead for the pilot plus nine episodes. It will debut in spring 2011.
Game of Thrones starts shooting in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in June. Sean Bean will star as the head of a noble family caught in a power struggle in a mythical kingdom. Other cast members include Jennifer Ehle, Lena Heady, Peter Dinklage, Mark Addy, Alfie Allen, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
Awesome news! I’m reading the first book in the series now and cannot wait to see it onscreen. Thanks HBO!
yes, yes, Y E S!
‘Bout time. I’m not much of a fantasy fan outside of the Lord of the Rings movies, but the HBO pedigree (and the participation of Sean Bean and Peter Dinklage) has had me looking forward to this since it was first announced.
Fantastic news. I’m just worried that the show will cost too much to make, so it will be easier to cancel it despite so so ratings (like Rome). Hopefully they’ll find some middle ground – or it will be a smashing hit.
Just finished Storm of Swords. Maybe this news will prompt GRRM to finish #5!
One can only hope! If he doesn’t pick up the pace, it’s not hard to see a scenario down the road where the series would hit a road block of running out of the series to adapt.
AWESOME. So unbelievably awesome. Love the books, love the casting (have been following GRRM’s blog about the pilot shooting). And so excited that it’s for HBO/cable since network television couldn’t show the things that need to be shown to do the story justice.
Only sad part? Just 10 episodes. I suspect it must be Rome-level expensive.
HBO will have an additional subscriber come Spring 2011.
yes! Yes! YES!
Thanks HBO!
Such great news! hopefully now that a deal is hammered our Martin can release the final installments!