HBO greenlights A Game of Thrones pilot!

[keg in kc]

EDIT: Changed the original header to mark this as the thread where spoilers are allowed (but not necessarily recommended...). Created a new, spoiler-free thread for Ice and Fire virgins...


This is awesome...

Huge, Huge News

Nov. 11th, 2008 at 10:29 PM

HBO has given the production order.

They will be filming the pilot episode of A GAME OF THRONES.

It's just the pilot so far. They'll need to see that before they decide whether to proceed with a full season's episodes. So let's all hope the pilot will kick serious ass.

It should. David Benioff and Dan Weiss did a terrific job with the script. And yes, all of you can relax, it's very faithful. Dan and David will be the executive producers for the pilot and (we hope) the eventual series.

More details when I have 'em. The news is very fresh. HBO just issued their own press release, which should be up on their website soon, if it's not there already.

Winter is coming to HBO. Hot damn.

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by PGM

Best show on TV, going to be a loooong wait for Season 2.

Might end up being the best TV show ever.

I don't know one person that watches it that is not completely obsessed with it now.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Spoiler!

They all die horribly

Spoiler!

Okay not really

Spoiler!

Or do they?

Spoiler!

I'll never tell.

Spoiler!

Because I'm evil.

Spoiler!

Like Joffrey demented wackjob evil

Now ::

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Huffmeister

Well done HBO.

I don't see how this show will not receive a bunch of Emmys.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by PGM

Best show on TV, going to be a loooong wait for Season 2.

To me it's a tie between this and Justified. But that's for another thread.

[Red Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by NewChief

In thinking about the way things are moving (in the books), I'm not convinced that GRRM isn't setting up the remaining (by DWD) Starks to become antagonists with the Lannisters being protagonists. I think the evil bastard might just get a kick out of that. The only thing that I think would keep him from doing it is that I know he has a soft spot in his heart for the Starks.

Spoiler!

You could be right. But I'm not sure it could ever really work. I can't imagine ever rooting agains Arya for example. I'm too invested in her story. For me, could never be an antagonist. I'm sure most people feel the same way about Jon Snow.

Originally Posted by NewChief

Finished last night finally. Just really excellent.

I guess the thing I'm most impressed with, though, is how well-received this series has been by the "normal" television viewer. The salon.com critic is putting it in the same category as The Sopranos or Deadwood and thinks people will quote GoT in the future thesame way they quote The Godfather now.

In the comments sections of the article, there are tons and tons of people offering huge praise for the series often prefaced with, "I'm not a fan of fantasy, but...."

Just goes to show that maybe people are smarter than most TV producers (and/or networks) want to give them credit for. Viewers crave things like this show. They don't always need to be spoonfed.

[keg in kc]

Spoiler!

It's been years since I read the books (about to do a re-read for Dance...), but I think he could be setting up Jamie as a possible protagonist. I don't think Cersei could ever be a sympathetic character, however. It might end up Lannister v. Lannister.

I think it the end it will be Tyrion/Jon/Dany versus the wights. I'm not sure about the disposition of the other major characters at this point in the story (Stannis & Melisandre, etc).

[allen_kcCard]

Talked a lot about this in the dance with dragons spoilerific thread I think.

[Iowanian]

I have yet to watch the last episode.

I was floored last week when brideowanian asked me about buying the book set to read.

When I first watched it, I thought she merely tolerated it. She has said pretty much what I feel and that is we think it's a great story line, intriguing characters but neither of us are big fans of the magic-dragons-zombie stuff. If it gets too much into that, it would lose both of us, but so far, I like it A LOT more than I ever thought I would.

[Hawk]

Haha, well, it is a Song of Ice and Fire, ice being the white walkers and the zombies they make when they kill someone, and the fire being the dragons, so there is certainly a strong element of that in the stories, but what makes them so good are the fascinating characters.

So many interesting characters, and as you have seen, the books don't follow conventional approaches with black and white heroes and villains.

You'll have to report back after watching the last episode!

[Frazod]

The supernatural elements do become more prevalent as the story progresses, but always take a backseat to the human story. Very similar to Dune in that respect.

[keg in kc]

And unlike Dune, the ensuing books are actually better than the first one.

I think this thing is selling a lot of books for Martin. I haven't paid attention to the print sales, but it's been near the top of audible's scifi/fantasy sales chart all season, which is saying something because it's a 2-credit audiobook (means it's twice as expensive...).

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Might end up being the best TV show ever.

I don't know one person that watches it that is not completely obsessed with it now.

Easy there tiger.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

And unlike Dune, the ensuing books are actually better than the first one.

I think this thing is selling a lot of books for Martin. I haven't paid attention to the print sales, but it's been near the top of audible's scifi/fantasy sales chart all season, which is saying something because it's a 2-credit audiobook (means it's twice as expensive...).

I remember we had this discussion earlier in the thread. Spot on. I also remember reading through GoT the first time that I thought Ned was giving off Duke Leto vibes as I was reading it. While it bummed me out that he got whacked, I saw it coming. Ned and Leto are nearly the same character.

[Mr. Laz]

much like the cow bell ... show needs more Dire Wolf.

[mnchiefsguy]

Originally Posted by frazod

The supernatural elements do become more prevalent as the story progresses, but always take a backseat to the human story. Very similar to Dune in that respect.

The way the story is following reminds me of Dune as well....I was comparing Ned Stark to Duke Leto in my head, especially after his death. I can't decide who I would consider to be Paul though....too early to tell if it will be Robb or Jon Snow. I am only about 1/3 way into Clash of the Kings, so a lot of things will change I am sure.