After HBO’s Game of Thrones came to a divisive end, audiences began expressing their disappointment over the decisions that were made in the show. Infuriated fans even wanted HBO to redo the entire final season. That’s when netizens began wondering if things would have ended differently, had they turned the show into a film series.
It’s only obvious for people to consider the path not taken, especially when the outcome proves disappointing. That is exactly why fans began debating for the years to come if Game of Thrones would have been better off as a film franchise. Recently showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss confirmed that they originally wanted the finale to be a film series. Back in 2020, even George R.R. Martin revealed that it was indeed the plan.
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Revealed the Film Series Idea for Game of Thrones
Following the disappointing finale of Game of Thrones, fans waged war against their favorite HBO show. So much so, that a few of them even wanted the production studio to redo the entire final season. But unfortunately, fans had to live on with the decisions that were made in the show. Wondering whether the finale would have ended on a better note if they had released it in the form of a film series, netizens began debating the possibility.
Addressing the very curiosity of fans surrounding the possibility of the Game of Thrones film series, producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss recently revealed via WSJ, how they initially had a different and much better plan lined up for Game of Thrones. Claiming that they had planned for a film trilogy, the showrunners revealed how it fell apart due to HBO’s interference.
“Benioff and Weiss, who have been friends since grad school, weren’t crazy about HBO’s then-owners, AT&T, whose executives once asked whether ‘Game of Thrones’ could be shot vertically so it would fit on your phone. The company also openly discussed the idea of snackable mini-episodes of the series.” WSJ reported.
With a monumental battle involving the White Walkers lined up, David Benioff and Dan Weiss wanted a film trilogy for the finale. But as per their interview with WSJ, HBO refused to take gambles at the box office. Interfering with the work, the company was more curious to know if the finale could be shot vertically so it would fit on phones.
“Dysfunction kills more projects than anything else, whether it’s interpersonal dysfunction or institutional dysfunction. When you sign a five-year deal with a company, you want that company to be stable so you can be left alone to do your work and not have to worry about it being bought by the phone company,” Weiss reported.
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss noted how they had planned for the show to end with three movies. But since HBO wasn’t interested in bringing the show to theaters, and more focused on whether audiences would be able to stream it from their phones, the original plan fell apart.
George R.R. Martin Previously Touched Upon the Unsuccessful Idea
Showrunner David Benioff and D.B. Weiss aren’t the only ones who revealed this unfortunate event. Back in 2020, after Game of Thrones concluded its disappointing finale, even George R.R. Martin noted the same thing. Claiming how he and the producers Benioff and Weiss were interested in making a film trilogy but failed due to HBO’s interference, Martin shared the sad news.
During his 2020 interview with Welt, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire, claimed that proceeding with a movie idea for the finale, was the original plan. Martin noted how producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss wanted a film trilogy. Spilling the beans during his interview, George R.R. Martin saddened fans after revealing how HBO’s interference ruined the whole plan of a theatrical run.
“We had actually considered this option: David Benioff and Dan Weiss, the two creators behind the series, actually wanted to end the saga after the seventh season with three big movies. Game Of Thrones was to end in the cinema. Four or five years ago it was seriously discussed.”
According to MovieWeb, the author even met with Guillermo del Toro and Quentin Tarantino to direct the film series, as it was in conversation. But unfortunately, the trilogy never happened. Dousing fans’ curiosity, George R.R. Martin revealed how HBO was against the plan. Although witnessing Game of Thrones on the big screen would have been huge, and even Hollywood filmmakers were up to directing it, HBO seemingly wanted a show for their streamer.
“Because HBO didn’t get involved. The responsible people said, ‘We produce TV series, we’re not in the cinema business.’ And when HBO makes movies, like now with [Deadwood], then they produce it only to show it on TV – not in the cinema.” Martin told Welt.
Losing out on the possibility of making a movie for a theatrical run, George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones ended up with the eighth and final season. Evidently, the finale thus turned into a disappointing one that left fans reeling from the decisions made.
