HBO Execs discuss Game of Thrones at TCA Press Tour 

HBO Execs discuss Game of Thrones at TCA Press Tour: Outpacing the books, finishing the story, and that movie rumor

Yesterday, the HBO Executive session was held at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour. Chairman and CEO Richard Plepler, and President of programming Michael Lombardo took the stage to discuss the future of their programming, and fielded a number of questions from critics about

The session kicked off with the buzzing question on everyone’s mind: what will happen if George R.R. Martin doesn’t finish his next book in time for the series to continue? Lombardo insisted that there’s no cause for concern,

“We’re not off on our own in respect to at least next season. Obviously George is an integral part of the creative team, so next season every move is being choreographed very closely with him. Certainly after next year we’ll have to figure it out with George. The book’s not finished at this point, but we’re in conversations with him. We’re not concerned about it.”

They also revealed that nothing short of a nuclear war will prevent them from finishing the story as scheduled. Lombardo said,

“No. Look, I mean we’re committed to it, and Dan and Dave are committed to it.”

“Our line to George as always been, ‘You keep writing and we’ll keep making the show.’”

movie to cap off the series. Martin has been asked about the movie in several interviews, but the HBO execs say that there have been no conversations about the idea.

“He is 100 percent focused on his books and his series, and has only held out the movie concept as something way down the road,”

Game of Thrones has become a cultural phenomenon, and its fan base continues to grow with each season. On the success of the show, Plepler said,

“What we knew is that it was a great series of books in the hands of two superb writers who were great showrunners. That it would turn into the biggest show in the history of our network was completely unpredictable.”

“If we knew, we’d be bottling it. All you can do is go along with it — and be very, very pleased.”

These quotes were compiled via reports from HitFix, Deadline, and Entertainment Weekly, be sure to check them out!

Get a daily update of the site’s latest news, conveniently sent in newsletter form, directly to your inbox. Sign up for WiC Daily.

Tagged HBO, Michael Lombardo, movie, Richard Plepler

Maisie Williams on Arya Stark’s big decisions in the Season 4 finale 20 Comments

Arya Stark’s journey throughout Game of Thrones Season 4 taught her some harsh lessons about a cruel world, which brought about a dark change in her. However, it was the final moments …

Have you already read all the books and/or don\'t care about spoilers? You can reveal all the spoilers in the comments with the click of a link below.

Season 6 is gonna make people lose their minds

I’ll take this as confirmation that TWOW is nowhere near ready.

Battles of Winterfell and Mereen on screen at the end and that Dany won’t be making a detour to the Dothraki sea but will instead be heading off to Westeros. In that vein they might decide to cut out Aegon.

We will get the same ending that Martin always planned for the books-just a different path to get there, which is a good thing since Martin’s been meandering too much, and seems confused over how to resolve all this.

Decided Jentario to start over and get the spoiler tags right. My apologies.

For people living in London, some GoT cast are going to be at the London Comic-con. The list includes Lena heady, Gethin Anthony, Finn Jones, Sibel Kekilli, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Kate Dickie(Lysa)and probably more.

Isaac’s also going to San Diego’s comic-con to promote his new film.

So there will be some new interviews in the upcoming days I guess.

I don’t think we’re getting both battles this season. I don’t think we’re getting any huge full episode battles. If we would have, Neil Marshall would have returned this season. David Nutter is doing episodes 9 and 10, and he did the Red Wedding. So I think the last two episodes will be packed with awesome moments rather than focusing on a specific battle.

That said, we ARE getting a battle- a battle in the snow (so probably Winterfell) which they had to move out of Iceland since it grew too big and long for Iceland’s shooting conditions. I think in terms of scale and screentime it will be comparable to the sacking of Yunkai from season 3 but turned up to eleven. So episode 9 will probably have 15-20 minutes of the battle of Winterfell alongside other climaxes- likely the Daznak Pit and maybe Cersei’s arrest and maybe Arya changing a face. It will be an EPIC episode for sure.

Agreed. We will be in whole new territory for Sansa and probably Bran as well. I for one rather look forward to being in the same boat as the Unsullied again…

full battle episodes for Season Five but I do think we’ll get the climaxes to Mereen and Winterfell-certainly the latter. Interesting how full battle episodes happen in even seasons so far-foreshadowing for something big in Season Six?!?

But the fact they’re talking like this tells me that the showrunners at least don’t expect TWOW to come out before the end of Season Five.

Jason Yager Posted July 11, 2014 at 8:56 am

Agreed.We will be in whole new territory for Sansa and probably Bran as well.I for one rather look forward to being in the same boat as the Unsullied again…

Yep, I grumble about stuff, but it’s fun not knowing what could happen next.

Hodor\'s Bastard Posted July 11, 2014 at 8:58 am

“….Certainly after next year we’ll have to figure it out with George. The book’s not finished at this point, but we’re in conversations with him. We’re not concerned about it.”

The devil’s in the details. I claim BS. How could they NOT be concerned about that?

“….Certainly after next year we’ll have to figure it out with George. The book’s not finished at this point, but we’re in conversations with him. We’re not concerned about it.”

The devil’s in the details. I claim BS. How could they NOT be concerned about that?

Because they are planning on moving in with or without George?

I’m sure they’re concerned, but at this point they’ve probably realized it’s futile to try and goad him into writing any faster than he is, and they probably feel confident that they have enough info to finish the story on their own. I do have to wonder just what GRRM was thinking when selling the rights to the show to HBO; if the initial assumption was that it was going to be One Book = One Season, then he would have known that he had very little time left to write multiple volumes of his series before the adaptation caught up (taking into account that the fifth book was published right after the first season of the show, and conservatively assuming that there would be two more books to finish up the series, that would give George about 7 years of the show to write two more books, about 3 and a half years for each). Knowing his own recent pace of writing, there’s no way he could have met that goal, even by his own terms. Does that mean that he thought from the get-go that the show would be a failure, an interesting but ultimately meaningless experiment on his part? I just think it’s strange that he didn’t seem to take all of that into consideration at the time.

well they’re definitely hiding something but it could be right that they are not concerned because they already have a solution or are at least close

A good option is to have George write most of the episodes of seasons 6 and 7. That way the show isn’t put into a bind and George gets to tell his story. He seems to be able to write at a timely pace when it comes to scripts

I’m ready to bet anything with anyone that TWOW comes out in 2015 ;)

Wouldn’t it be funny if GRRM’s grand “fuck you” gesture from a few days back was actually intended for the HBO execs, instead of the obnoxious fans? They must be poking him in some way.

A good option is to have George write most of the episodes of seasons 6 and 7. That way the show isn’t put into a bind and George gets to tell his story. He seems to be able to write at a timely pace when it comes to scripts

That’s a great idea for Season 7, but how would D&D feel about it? Maybe they could do half and half, and have D&D direct more than 1 episode.

It’s a shame noone asked them about the possibility of an extended final season, but interesting that they didn’t discard the movie idea…

GRRM will give one last push before admitting defeat.

Then after the show beats him he’ll finally come to terms with an 8th book (since the show will already be done and the race would be over). When TWOW is out we will have to judge whether a ninth book could be necessary.

For one thing he’s been only adapting original work from book to screen play so far, and for another you can’t fanny around and take as long as you like with a screenplay – it has to be ready before a strict deadline.

Regarding the final extended season, it could be done if that final season would be delayed from the midseason to the Fall season of 2017. That would give them 6 more months to shoot, and Martin 1 more year to finish the books.

There’s many variables to consider though, and I don’t think any decission will be made until the 6th book is out at least

Then after the show beats him he’ll finally come to terms with an 8th book (since the show will already be done and the race would be over). When TWOW is out we will have to judge whether a ninth book could be necessary.

House Mormont Posted July 11, 2014 at 9:58 am

AHAHAHA the problem is George’s writing, you want to give him more to write? He handed his season 3 episode in waaay late even though he only had 1 to write and D&D had 8, and I know his blackwater episode is way too big

Not to mention when was the last time he had a tv series in his hands? The 80s? He’d be even rustier than he is with books

GRRM is justified in defending his writing pace and pointing out the unfairness in fans trying to rush him, but objectively speaking, it is a really really embarrassing that this is actually a situation. It feels like a kid who can’t finish his homework on time. I honestly cringe each time I see an article that brings up the topic of the show passing the book.

AHAHAHA the problem is George’s writing, you want to give him more to write? He handed his season 3 episode in waaay late even though he only had 1 to write and D&D had 8, and I know his blackwater episode is way too big

Not to mention when was the last time he had a tv series in his hands? The 80s? He’d be even rustier than he is with books

How could he be rusty when he has just written 5 scripts of the series?

Edit: Plus he would be writing the scripts for the book he is working on at the moment, not the scripts for a book he finished 20y ago. I don’t see him writing all the scripts either, but definitelly working closer to the writers for that final season, and maybe getting credit for more than just 1 script

While on some levels I would like that, I don’t think it will ever happen. By that time so many of the characters GRRM wrote about will be omitted from the series and his endgame for ASOIAF would need to be adjusted fairly drastically.

GRRM was talking about “butterfly wings” with Mago being killed or Marillion losing his tongue in Season 1 …. imagine how the changes would bother him by the time Season 6 roles around! XD

GRRM having to write scripts about events he hasn’t written yet is like D&D pouring salt on GRRM’s own self made wound. He would probably be so bitter writing those scripts.

Seems pretty clear to me that GRRM needs to make a virtue of necessity and finish his story via the show and not the books. For seasons six and onwards he can sign on as full time story consultant and script writer for multiple episodes, for which he would be able to command a fee approximately equal to all the money in the world. Then he can then finish the books at his leisure, health permitting. Book purists of course will not be pleased, but when are they ever?

1. They’re not concerned because they think GRRM can stay ahead of the show, or

2. They’re not concerned because if the show does outpace the books, they can just pump GRRM for information about what comes next?

As someone above said, the show and the books will be so different at that point that I doubt GRRM would want to assume full control. They’re cutting Arianne and probably LS (and with it everything in the Riverlands) and Vic and Aeron if not the Iron Islands entirely, they might even cut the Griffs and they’re definitely creating new arcs (like a certain someone who never went to Dorne in the books going to Dorne). For GRRM to decide that the show is his vehicle to finish the series for certain would be entirely out of character.

1. They’re not concerned because they think GRRM can stay ahead of the show, or

2. They’re not concerned because if the show does outpace the books, they can just pump GRRM for information about what comes next?

D&D, Cogman and GRRM have already had a long meeting where George told them about his plans for the story going forward. They know now how the whole thing ends, and hopefully a lot of the storypoints leading up to it, so I don’t think they really need George anymore.

more D&D fan fiction incoming. I’ll watch the show for what it is and wait ever so patiently for the books to come out.

sjwenings: D&D, Cogman and GRRM have already had a long meeting where George told them about his plans for the story going forward. They know now how the whole thing ends, and hopefully a lot of the storypoints leading up to it, so I don’t think they really need George anymore.

I think George is smart enough to give them enough info so they could go ahead with season 4 and 5, but noy enough that they don’t need him anymore…he claims he is like Tyrion but I see him more like a Varys /Littlefinger hybrid

Sergei Walankox Posted July 11, 2014 at 10:46 am

about events transpiring in the manner I propose, but he has to play with the hand that he’s dealt. Either he gets more involved in the show, or he surrenders to others the progress of the story as most of the world is going to know it — indeed, what may be the only form it’s ever going to take, if finishing the books indeed proves beyond him. It’s sometimes said that he’s “in denial” about all this, but that can’t be true in the literal sense. Obviously he’s sensitive about the fact that he hasn’t been able to keep up, and for the time being his preferred method of dealing with it is to evade the question when it’s raised with him in public. That doesn’t mean he genuinely does believe that the book series will be wrapped up when A Dream of Spring hits the shelves the year after next.

LOL @ those of you who think the writing would be turned over to George for Season 6 & 7.

The show is D&D’s baby. After putting all this work into crafting the show, there’s no way on earth they’d put the final seasons into someone else’s hands.

Then there’s the matter of George’s snail pace writing. To think that he’d be able to deliver scripts for all (or even most) of the episodes is ludicrous.

No, he’ll remain a consultant and probably continue to contribute his one script a season – but that’s it.

Pau Soriano: I think George is smart enough to give them enough info so they could go ahead with season 4 and 5, but noy enough that they don’t need him anymore…he claims he is like Tyrion but I see him more like a Varys /Littlefinger hybrid

Not sure what you missed there…but it’s not “just” 4 & 5…they sat down and got the WHOLE story arc for each character. It’s a done deal, nothing to do with GRRM being smart. I’m sure they don’t have finite detail like lines of dialogue…but they have enough to to map things out and confirm their seven season statement. If they wanted to at this point, they literally could finish without ever speaking with him again…obviously they wont do this, but at this point GRRM isn’t holding anything over their heads…he has no leverage.

If I had to bet, I’d say that George has given them the beats for books 6 and 7 and that the broader story will play out onscreen much as the past 4 have reflected their books.

What George probably did was outline things to come much like this description from A Game of Thrones: “we’re introduced to Bran Stark, who accompanies his father, Ned, as Ned executes a traitor from the Night’s Watch. They find direwolves on the trip back (with an explanation of what they are). The King and His court arrive in Winterfell……and Bran is pushed out a tower window.”

This will tell the story, and D&D (and Bryan Cogman) are decent enough writers to make it all compelling. But they are not the wordsmith that George is. If D&D had written purely from the outline above I doubt we would have gotten “The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword,” or “The things we do for love.” Or any of the famous and beautifully crafted words that George gave us ever since, and I feel the series would be the lesser without them.

And having invested so many years of my life into this story, I will feel cheated by getting the Cliff’s Notes version before reading the whole story. I still think it’s possible TWoW will appear in print before most of its details are revealed onscreen, but I’ve lost hope for ADoS and the ending.

They’re at their ceiling in terms of budgeting out a season and paying new actors/actresses. They can’t do it anymore. He didn’t come out and say it, but given this statement, and the lack of any Greyjoys, Connington, Aegon casting news…it’s not looking good for those characters being part of the show.

Also a battle will happen in season 5. Sounds like the Winterfell one. So he needs to get moving or they are really going to start spoiling things. If there is an omission of the Greyjoys, Connington, and Aegon, that alone spoils things and tells you they’re not that important to the overall ending.

Valdred Dethstorm Posted July 11, 2014 at 11:39 am

Jason Yager: Not sure what you missed there…but it’s not “just” 4 & 5…they sat down and got the WHOLE story arc for each character. It’s a done deal, nothing to do with GRRM being smart. I’m sure they don’t have finite detail like lines of dialogue…but they have enough to to map things out and confirm their seven season statement. If they wanted to at this point, they literally could finish without ever speaking with him again…obviously they wont do this, but at this point GRRM isn’t holding anything over their heads…he has no leverage.

Yeah, pretty much this. Sad thing is, the purists and the “Not your bitch” wankers will surely be mad at HBO and D&D, for finishing the story before GRRM. As if it was their fault. Thinking about prequel seasons, movies or the show taking a break so GRRM can catch up is ridiculous at best.

It’d be better for people to just accept that the show will finish first, and that GRRM has zero chances to win that race.

LOL. What do you mean? He’s a hollywood executive- Don’t you think it makes him look *super* trustworthy?

“George is an integral part of the creative team, so next season every move is being choreographed very closely with him. Certainly after next year we’ll have to figure it out with George”

The Dragon Demands Posted July 11, 2014 at 11:54 am

What I’m more interested in, which we might get answers on more than the usual “book schedule” question, is how their negotiations are going for prequel projects (such as Robert’s Rebellion, Dunk & Egg, and the Dance of the Dragons).

Sad thing is, the purists and the “Not your bitch” wankers will surely be mad at HBO and D&D, for finishing the story before GRRM. As if it was their fault. Thinking about prequel seasons, movies or the show taking a break so GRRM can catch up is ridiculous at best.

It’d be better for people to just accept that the show will finish first, and that GRRM has zero chances to win that race.

It’s even sadder that there are wankers out there already blaming the “not your bitch” wankers for supposedly getting mad at something that hasn’t even happened yet XD

Wilson Wilson Posted July 11, 2014 at 11:58 am

Well it’s not as if GRRM has had since 2006 to get it all these potential issues sorted – oh, wait…

Personally i’m not as worried as some about D&D no longer having direct dialogue from Martin to work with. By now they have a pretty good handle on the characters voices and in fact some of the best dialogue on the series has been totally original to the show. Sure i will miss Martin providing things like the bathtub scene with Jaime to work with but I think D and D now have enough to work with and I certainly won’t miss where whites go or your words are wind.

I admit to dreading how the whole “Martin’s not your birch” crowd reacts to this though especially Neil Gain an who started the whole meme.

didnt the battle of winterfell not happen yet in the books? if thats the case, why would they have that in this season. also, i thought there was 2 seasons left of material bca they are combining 2 books this season.

Yeah well, if that would be the case, one word for these people: “D&D are not your bitch”!

Pau Soriano: It’s even sadder that there are wankers out there already blaming the “not your bitch” wankers for supposedly getting mad at something that hasn’t even happened yet XD

There are plenty of people who are already getting worked up by the thought of it. “D&D should alter the story for GRRM in seasons 6 and onward so it will not spoil the books”, “GRRM deserves to finish first” etc. It’s at the Westeros forum. If you want specific posts or topics I can look them up.

Patchy Face Posted July 11, 2014 at 12:23 pm

Really enjoyed your “Martin’s not your birch” quote – is he an elm or an oak? :)

Money, and parties, and nice girls smiling around you in conventions changes your priorities… not blaming, I will do the same!

I’ve been reading the books since I started highs cool in 2004 but now I really want the show to finish first because GRRM is a sellout peace of shit. And fuck all of you Sycophants :P.

“No. Look, I mean we’re committed to it, and Dan and Dave are committed to it.” While Plepler added, “Our line to George as always been, ‘You keep writing and we’ll keep making the show.’”

D&D know the ending of the major characters. Dany, The Starks, The Lannisters. He doesnt know the journy yet. He has a rough outline. and hes not sure on alot of the minor characters yet. So the show might take a major turn. Plus how are they going to do the north storyline.

there are so many characters they will have to introduce in one season.

But the fact they’re talking like this tells me that the showrunners at least don’t expect TWOW to come out before the end of Season Five.

Yes, in wild cards, and the hedge knights, and world of ice and fire, and the witness of Tyrion Lannister….

Holiday release is excellent marketing strategy. I was really hoping for Nov.-Dec. of 2014. But I won’t hold my breath..

As to the topic of the big battles…. I think that they’ll use season 5 to move the characters into “position” for the battles in early season 6.

One idea: they could make a mini-serie of 3 episodes (or even a film but I think that is less likely) of Robert’s Rebellion, between seasons 5 and 6, in which anyone that hasn’t watched the show yet could watch and understand. This would be great, because

2 – would be advertesing for those who haven’t watched the show

4 – would be a wise story telling device for David and Dan (considering that they failed to present and give importance to Robert Rebelion)( if stays the way it is, no Unsullied will care that R + L = J, because they dont know who Rhaegar and Lyanna are)

5 – would tell important things for the future of the show (such as Jon’s parentage)

6 – would probably make HBO earn profits and awards on best miniseries.

I realy think that would be great and hope they do this (with not necessary dan and david producing it)

My first comment disappeared so I’m trying again….

I guess I’m one of those “wankers” you are talking about. Funny though, I’m not mad at D&D or HBO nor will I be if they move beyond GRRM. I would love for GRRM to finish his books before the show but that’s not realistic. I also think he set himself up for failure by making the deal with HBO. So that’s all on him. But I still think he should finish, if he finishes, at whatever pace suits him. I will be happy to get the ending (albeit by different routes) from D&D seeing as that I probably won’t from GRRM. As for how “we” caused this to happen…that’s absurd since we have no control over GRRM or D&D/HBO whatsoever. If you’re going to accuse us “wankers” of something, at least make it somewhat believable.

I doubt the show will suffer at all not having direct dialogue from grrm, thinking back to season 3, the best lines “if you think this has a happy ending you haven’t been paying attention” “because the truth is either terrible or boring” and all of Olenna’s one liners, none of that came from George.

And sure they have their hiccups like “supper would be nice” but then again George also wrote “you think a few bolts of cloth will make you king?” And they have months to write while George has years

Dialogue is where D&D excel, they know every facet of the characters, and have enhanced those characters for the better. Don’t tell me that Davos in Braavos speech wasn’t just soooo Davos, and I don’t even like Davos in the books.

George R.R. Martin has a strong message for those who think he won't finish A Song of Ice and Fire

Which Game of Thrones actors will snag an Emmy nomination this week?

Interview Roundup: Moving past the books, the shortcomings of body doubles, and playing a badass

Preparations for Game of Thrones season 5 filming in Seville and Osuna under way

House.Mormont commented on HBO Execs discuss Game of Thrones at TCA Press Tour: Outpacing the books, finishing the story, and that movie rumor

Joe Frost commented on George R.R. Martin has a strong message for those who think he won’t finish A Song of Ice and Fire

Ms. D. Ranged in AZ commented on HBO Execs discuss Game of Thrones at TCA Press Tour: Outpacing the books, finishing the story, and that movie rumor

clk commented on HBO Execs discuss Game of Thrones at TCA Press Tour: Outpacing the books, finishing the story, and that movie rumor

Carol Lang commented on HBO Execs discuss Game of Thrones at TCA Press Tour: Outpacing the books, finishing the story, and that movie rumor

HBO talks future of top series including 'True Detective,' 'Game Of Thrones' and 'Boardwalk Empire'

SDCC 2014: See, Then Win A Full-Sized Game Of Thrones White Walker

Winter Is Coming is your source of news, rumors, speculation, and discussion for HBO’s Game of Thrones, the television adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.