George R.R. Martin Reveals Biggest “Issue” With New ‘Games of Thrones’ Spinoff

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A new Game of Thrones spin-off series is coming soon, but author George R.R. Martin worries it might run into similar problems as a previous show.

As a huge fan of the Game of Thrones universe, I’m really excited about the new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which starts on HBO January 18th. It’s a totally different vibe than what we’re used to, taking place a century before the events of Game of Thrones. We follow Ser Duncan the Tall, a struggling knight played by Peter Claffey, and his young squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), as they travel around Westeros. Forget massive battles and dragons – this story is much more grounded and focused on everyday life. The first season mainly centers around a jousting tournament, which sounds like a refreshing change of pace!

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, 77-year-old Martin described the location as having a field, several tents, and a few horses.

Just because a new show is happening doesn’t mean it will avoid the problems that plagued the final seasons of Game of Thrones. Many fans remember that GoT started to differ greatly from George R.R. Martin’s books around Season 5, as he hadn’t finished writing them yet. This caused a lot of disagreement among viewers, particularly regarding the show’s divisive ending.

George R.R. Martin explained that his biggest challenge with continuing A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is getting all the stories he has in mind down on paper. He’s started working on two new novellas in the past year – one takes place in Winterfell and the other in the Riverlands.

Watch the trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms below.

George R.R. Martin Shares His Opinion on New Spinoff

Although he wished there had been more episodes, Martin expressed overall satisfaction with the first season of the spinoff, feeling it was a success.

The actors were perfectly chosen. The show’s creator, Ira Parker, is fantastic and shares my vision for staying true to the characters, he explained.

George R.R. Martin hinted he might start writing for television again, potentially with a show called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, depending on his current workload. He previously wrote several episodes of Game of Thrones, including fan favorites like “The Pointy End,” “Blackwater,” “The Bear and the Maiden Bear,” and “The Lion and the Rose.”

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I’ve always considered contributing to the show. However, circumstances change, and other things become more important.

Parker explained to The Hollywood Reporter that the new show is essentially Game of Thrones stripped down to its core elements, removing the more complex aspects.

As a huge cinema fan, one of the things I always loved about Game of Thrones was the dynamic between unexpected pairings – think Arya and the Hound, or Brienne and Podrick. It wasn’t just the big battles or the dragons; it was seeing those characters bounce off each other, having real conversations. Honestly, I think those interactions were a huge part of what made the show so compelling for me, and I’m hoping to capture that same magic in my own work.

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2026-01-15 20:54