Three More ‘Game Of Thrones’ Spin-Offs In Development At HBO
Another week, another slew ofGame of Thronesspin-offs that are in the works at HBO. As cameras are set to start rolling on the prequel seriesHouse of the Dragon, HBO is reportedly developing three newGame of Thronesspin-offs, each expanding a new corner ofGeorge R.R. Martin’s fictional fantasy world.
Deadline reports that HBO is developing three new projects set within the world of Westeros and Essos (and maybe beyond). The three new series are:9 Voyages(AKASea Snake),Flea Bottom,and10,000 Ships.
A little explainer:9 Voyagesrefers to the “Great Voyages” at sea made by Lord Corlys Velaryon (a distant relation of the Targaryens, also descended from ancient Valyria like them) and later his grandson, Lord Alyn Velaryon, aboard the ship Sea Snake. He journeyed from Westeros to cities in Essos like Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr, to far-off fabled lands like Asshai-by-the-Shadow, Yi Ti, Leng, and the frozen seas north of Westeros. It’s a classic seafaring fantasy set-up and reportedly the project that’s the farthest along, per Deadline.The Mentalistcreator andRomeco-creator Bruno Heller is reportedly involved in this project alongside Martin.
The second project is set in the maze-like King’s Landing slum of Flea Bottom, which was featured prominently in the first four seasons ofGame of Thrones— Arya fled there after escaping the Red Keep and Robert Baratheon’s bastard Gendry was born there. There aren’t details yet on the story or characters involved in the Flea Bottom series, but it honestly sounds like the least appealing one; how could you tell a compelling story set in the slums of King’s Landing — however maze-like they are — without being tempted to explore the rest of King’s Landing and the palace intrigue that madeGame of Thronessuch a big hit?
The last show being explored by HBO is10,000 Ships, which refers to the journey made by Princess Nymeria and the surviving Rhoynars (after their defeat in an ancient war with Valyria in Essos) to Dorne, about 1,000 years before the events of theA Song of Ice and Firenovels. Wedding herself to the Martell family, Princess Nymeria would unite and become the ruling sovereign of Dorne and turn it into the rich kingdom we see inGame of Thrones. Fans ofGame of Thronesprobably recognize the name by Arya’s wolf, who the Stark girl named after the famous warrior queen. You can watch the animated exploits of Nymeria from one of theGame of Thronesspecial features, below.
The most promising of these are9 Voyages(who doesn’t love a good seafaring pirate show?) and10,000 Ships, the latter of which could finally flesh out the under-explored kingdom of Dorne (as long as none of the troubling ethnic stereotypes that popped up inGame of Thronesdon’t stick around).
It might sound like HBO is jumping the gun onGame of Thronesspin-offs, but who can blame them when Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firesaga offers such a rich well of storytelling ideas, and when cinematic/TV universes are all the rage right now? These three new projects join already developing projects like aDunk & Eggadaptation (meh) and apossible animated series(yes) for HBO Max. It’s just a matter of whether HBO can win back the audience that was supremely disappointed by theGame of Thronesfinale.
