Executive producer George R.R. Martin has announced his “full and complete and unequivocal support” of the Writers Guild of America’s writers strike. The author has confirmed development on HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight has been temporarily shut down until the strike reaches a fair conclusion. This comes after nearly a month after the project was given an official straight-to-series order by Max.
“How long will the strike last? No idea. Maybe the AMPTP members will come to their senses tomorrow and offer some meaningful concessions, and the whole thing can be wrapped up next week,” Martin wrote on his blog as he recalls previous experience with past WGA strikes. “I would not bet the ranch on that, however. I have been through several of these since I first started writing for television and film in 1986. The 1988 strike, the first I was a part of, lasted 22 weeks, the longest in Hollywood history. The 2007-2008 strike, the most recent, went for 100 days. This one may go longer.” The issues are more important, imnsho, and I have never seen the Guild so united as it is now.”
The Song of Ice and Fire author also commented on the ongoing production of House of the Dragon Season 2, revealing that all eight scripts were completed months ago.
“The scripts for the eight S2 episodes were all finished months ago, long before the strike began,” Martin wrote. “Every episode has gone through four or five drafts and numerous rounds of revisions, to address HBO notes, my notes, budget concerns, etc. There will be no further revisions. The writers have done their jobs; the rest is in the hands of the directors, cast and crew… and of course the dragons).”
What to Expect in The Hedge Knight Series?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is based on the Martin’s Dunk and Egg novella. The short tale centers on Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and Aegon V Targaryen (Egg), set a hundred years before the events of the main series. The series is expected to run for six episodes.
“A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg,” reads the series’ logline. “Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.”
The prequel will be written and executive produced by both Martin and Ira Parker. Additional executive producers are Ryan Condal and Vince Gerardis. Other potential Game of Thrones spin-offs are in the works at HBO, which include a Jon Snow-centered series featuring the return of Kit Harington.