HBO to make George R.R. Martin' SoI&F into a series...

[Zaukrie]

From the westeros.org post board, Parris, GRRM's significant other wrote this:

Thanks X-Ray and everybody, this has been an on-off-on project for many months, and we couldn't say anything to anyone. George's email box is overflowing with notes from people who have read the news this morning. I'm waiting for the first message from somebody he worked with out in Hollywood but hasn't heard from in a decade to inquire if there's a job/script/episode they can work on.

Please remember folks, this is just an option. HBO has not 'greenlighted' pre-production, let alone hired directors, paid for the scripts to be written, set a production schedule or put it into their programming. At the least, I don't think we'll see AGoT until 2009, more likely 2010.

 

[Banshee16]

There's two naturals, I think:

Warwick Davis

Peter Dinklage

Both are decent actors, I think. In Threshold, Dinklage proved he can do cynical really, really well...

I think Warwick is a little old for Tyrion...I mean, he's old enough to be Tywin! Plus, there's probably a certain amount of Willow baggage.

I'm sure there are other actors of less than average height who could be used for the role....especially ones who are younger. Isn't Tyrion the little brother, and not supposed to be older than something like 25?

Banshee

 

[Aeric]

Oh dear... And now with GRRM's involvement in this show... Not good news for those of us who'd like to see it end in our lifetimes. Just what he doesn't need, another distraction.

I'm just glad to hear that it has an end. I thought it was going to be a trilogy; when Storm of Swords ended with a ton of plot threads unresolved, I despaired of my favorite fantasy saga turning into another Wheel of Time. I need closure and I need it now!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

This is bad. GRRM doesn't need a distraction from finishing his novels ... he's far too slow as is. We're still waiting on Book 5, which is really only the second half of book 4, and was mostly complete when Book 4 was published!

Once the novels are done, though ... great idea! (Though I predict losing 75% of their viewers after the Red Wedding.)

 

[Grog]

Didn't HBO cancel Rome because it was too expensive to make? I can't see this being much cheaper....

 

[Steel_Wind]

This is bad. GRRM doesn't need a distraction from finishing his novels ... he's far too slow as is. We're still waiting on Book 5, which is really only the second half of book 4, and was mostly complete when Book 4 was published!

Once the novels are done, though ... great idea! (Though I predict losing 75% of their viewers after the Red Wedding.)

This is NOT bad. Quite the contrary to a distraction, this imposes an external deadline on GRRM.

There is big money at stake here - and big exposure if he does not meet the deadlines. He will be compelled to write despite any desire for a convention here there and everywhere 7 times a year.

GRRM has been decidedly unfocused in his writing after A Storm of Swords was released. He has Hollywood pit-bull lawyers nipping at his heels now.

He is now contractually obligated to finish the series by 2011.

Best news I've heard in a very long time. I am ecstatic.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Didn't HBO cancel Rome because it was too expensive to make? I can't see this being much cheaper....

Except HBO has a market for sales of these DVDs far, far larger than Rome's.

GRRM fans are dedicated. If they don't screw this up - they could earn double the cost of a very expensive season on just the DVD sales per year, never mind the subscription and HBO on Demand sales.

HBO looked at the LotR home video sales and saw this market.

 

[Ranger REG]

Hmm. Makes me wonder why the hell we need SCI-FI channel for. Maybe HBO should buy SCI-FI and shake up the station's format (as well as its executives).

 

[Agamon]

Hmm. Makes me wonder why the hell we need SCI-FI channel for. Maybe HBO should buy SCI-FI and shake up the station's format (as well as its executives).

SoI&F is an HBO series, not a Sci-Fi series. HBO will do it right, Sci-Fi...I'd be very afraid if they were doing it...

 

[Steel_Wind]

One problem with the series....

Over the course of the first four books - the children have aged perhaps two years. Might be a touch less.

Over the first four seasons of a series - the children will age four years. That is not going to be possible to hide. They are either have to going to film in sequence FAST (they won't = cashflow is a problem) or they will have to re-write in a way to accommodate this.

Looks like we may get a five year gap, so to speak (not really five yearsm but..) after all.