As we reported a few weeks ago, HBO has commissioned ideas for four potential spinoffs from Game of Thrones with George RR Martin to supervise all four of them.

There's been nothing in the way of plot reveals yet, however Martin posted a blog last night which gives some early indication as to what HBO is thinking and how the whole thing will shake out. The most interesting part is that two major stories which many believed would form the basis for the spinoffs - that's Robert's Rebellion and Dunk & Egg - have been nixed.

According to Martin, "(by) the time I finish writing A Song of Ice & Fire, you will know every important thing that happened in Robert’s Rebellion. There would be no surprises or revelations left in such a show, just the acting-out of conflicts whose resolutions you already know."

"I don’t want to repeat what happened with Game of Thrones itself, where the show gets ahead of the books," said Martin. He went on, explaining that "the concepts under discussion is a prequel, rather than a sequel," and further added that some may not even be set in Westeros. He also cautioned against the use of prequel or spinoff, instead preferring the term "successor show".

The most interesting part, however, is the fact that HBO have commissioned five, not four spinoff pilots, as was previously announced. However, Martin cautioned against seeing all five on TV any time soon - if at all. Martin also revealed the names of the screenwriters working on the four scripts as Max Borenstein (Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island), Jane Goldman (X-Men: First Class, Kingsman), Brian Helgeland (LA Confidential, Mystic River), and Carly Wray (Mad Men, The Leftovers).

Each has been given a pilot script to write, with the fifth name yet to be revealed. Martin is working with all five and has said that they "are all amazing talents, and I am excited to be working with them."

So, thoughts? The list of screenwriters working on this is pretty damn impressive, to say the least - Brian Helgeland, especially, who's never done television before. Carly Wray worked on two of the most impressive TV shows in recent years - Mad Men and The Leftovers - so her work speaks for herself. Jane Goldman and Max Borenstein, however, are more known big studio tentpoles than thought-provoking, in-depth television shows and may not necessarily have the stamina required for a long-term commitment.

That said, neither have worked on a TV show before, so who really knows? Either way, we're excited. What do you make of it all? Let us know in the comments!

 

Via livejournal / GRRM