A 'Game of Thrones' Sequel Is Not an Option for HBO's Top Executive

[steve2470]

*spoiler alert!!*

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-sequel-is-not-an-option-hbo-series-finale-1212749

*snip*

(The Hollywood Reporter interviewer: ) The three successor shows are all prequels. In the finale, Arya goes on to explore what's west of Westeros. Have you considered exploring sequels? Specifically, Arya Stark as she travels west of Westeros?

(HBO Programming president Casey Bloys: ) Nope, nope, nope. No. Part of it is, I do want this show — this Game of Thrones, Dan and David's show — to be its own thing. I don't want to take characters from this world that they did beautifully and put them off into another world with someone else creating it. I want to let it be the artistic piece they've got. That's one of the reasons why I'm not trying to do the same show over. George has a massive, massive world; there are so many ways in. That's why we're trying to do things that feel distinct — and to not try and redo the same show. That's probably one of the reasons why, right now, a sequel or picking up any of the other characters doesn't make sense for us.

*snip*

I think his reasoning is a bit weak, but maybe he will change his mind. If they are really careful with a sequel, it could do really well.

[hlthe2b]

1. If they were going to go that route they'd have to contract the actors very quickly...

The upcoming HBO movie DEADWOOD is an example of how difficult that can be once the show ends. In that case, the show was canceled 12 years earlier and they have only NOW been able to fulfill a promise of a movie to address the lack of true "finale".

[marylandblue]

2. The show went downhill when they didn't have books to draw on.

But the books have lots of background material, so it will be easier to make good prequels.

[qazplm135]

3. I'll never understand Hollywood's obsession with prequels

I want new stories, not past stories that are constrained by what we already knows will follow.

Spock isn't dying on ST: Discovery for example. We know he survives, so any drama attached to him is necessarily reduced.
We know what the Cylons are going to become on Caprica, again it reduces the drama and constrains the writing.

[hlthe2b]

4. Yeah... I sort of agree. I guess for GOT fans, prequels are better than nothing.

[Yavin4]

5. Prequels can work if they offer new information about the current story

The Star Wars prequels failed because we didn't learn anything important to the story, e.g "who are the Siths?", "why do they want to rule the galaxy?", "who are the Jedi?", "how did they start?", "why are they at war with the Siths?", etc.

If the prequels delved into these questions, then they would have been better movies. The problem with that approach is that they would not be "kid friendly". Making Darth Vader's origin story "kid friendly" was stupid.

[DFW]

6. How about a series about mythical medieval palace mortgage holders?

They could call it "Game of Loans."

Or a series about ice cream sorcerers, pitting the Earl of Baskin against the dark Prince of Robbins?
"Game of Cones"