Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

HBO Greenlights Pilot
For George R.R. Martin’s
GAME OF THRONES!!

awesome by c4andmore	Nov 11th, 2008 10:30:46 PM
I'll believe it when i see it though
win by Wheatnik	Nov 11th, 2008 10:34:19 PM
this is freakin spectacular news
R-Rated Comic Con by aversiontherapy2	Nov 11th, 2008 10:34:24 PM
Sounds perfect.
YES. by flickchick85	Nov 11th, 2008 10:43:42 PM
I actually haven't read this series, but I've heard good things. I'm just excited that HBO's getting out of this contemporary-real-world rut they've gotten into lately and getting back into bold, epic, filmmaking for the small screen. I got HBO b/c of Carnivale, Deadwood, Rome, etc. This SOUNDS like a return to form...like Chris Albrecht got back in charge or something.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO by kjl451	Nov 11th, 2008 10:45:03 PM
wait... i forget what i'm booing.
Holy crap, here we go. by Aloy	Nov 11th, 2008 10:47:26 PM
It would be exciting if it wasn't for the dozens of characters who will have to be left out or barely acknowledged just to make any sense of this. Have to wonder if this won't be at best an interesting fantasy exercise but the true fans will hate it.
One novel per season??? by selenya	Nov 11th, 2008 10:49:03 PM
Good luck. It might work for True Blood, but those books are pretty fluffy to begin with. Lots of flash, not a whole lot of substance.
Hercules by shellfishh	Nov 11th, 2008 10:49:58 PM
"These are apparently very long, grown-up fantasy novels" That's a very sad sentence to see on this site. Yes, they are. And you need to read some books. These books.
Still...... by Aloy	Nov 11th, 2008 10:50:05 PM
...as my late father loved to say: "better than a jab with a sharp stick".
can't wait... by darthzombie	Nov 11th, 2008 11:06:12 PM
I have been hearing about this in the works for a while and can't wait to see this. I love the books and think that this would be the only to adapt them cause too much goes on in one book to do anything else with them. Now when is the next novel going to finally be done and come out...
Sweet by Cory849	Nov 11th, 2008 11:06:22 PM
The books aren't done though. He's written four of seven (at least seven) and the story is still very much in the middle. I don't know that he'll be able to finish them on time either. George RR Martin is having trouble finishing it, I think, and in addition looks like he could be Harry Knowles grandfather. Which is one way of saying he's one twinkie away from a four chamber heart attack.
america, fuck yeaahhh by crazybubba	Nov 11th, 2008 11:06:28 PM

...this... by arizonahotrock	Nov 11th, 2008 11:07:11 PM
...better be true. After getting the dick-slap of Ratner directing Conan, I need some good fantasy news. I hope this is for real.
Cory849 by arizonahotrock	Nov 11th, 2008 11:08:10 PM
Hopefully, if the show actually happens and is successful, it might inspire him to speed up the process and get those books done...hopefully.
True Blood by medicinaluser	Nov 11th, 2008 11:09:19 PM
Is targeted more at the AICN peeps ...fuck they even smoking. Bring back Carnivale, JFC, and Deadwood you bitches.
guess this means he's not gonna finish dance of dragons anytime by crazybubba	Nov 11th, 2008 11:11:06 PM
which was supposed be ready a few months ago. Hope he doesn't pull a Robert Jordan and die on us before he finishes the series. selfish bastard.
soon by crazybubba	Nov 11th, 2008 11:12:06 PM

yeah by crazybubba	Nov 11th, 2008 11:13:16 PM
bring back carnivale and deadwood bitches.
By the old gods and the new...! by Judge Dreadful	Nov 11th, 2008 11:14:18 PM
Can't wait to hear every little casting/location/etc. detail. We haven't really seen something like these stories on the little or big screen before. I hope HBO can sell the show so it gets the audience it deserves. Now, where's the damn next book...? These dragonless nights are dark and full of terrors.
I can see an immediate problem by Oomlot	Nov 11th, 2008 11:21:04 PM
One of the major characters is a very under-age girl who has more sex than pretty much anyone in the story. So I guess all of that is gone, not to mention her biggest moment thus far, for which she is entirely naked, breastfeeding lizards. But if toned down it has to be, it had better still be good.
@ Cory849 by c4andmore	Nov 11th, 2008 11:22:01 PM
After getting screwed by Robert Jordan and the Wheel of Time series, I'm wary about starting a series that hasn't ended yet. I read the first one a few years ago and enjoyed it though.
@Oomlot by arizonahotrock	Nov 11th, 2008 11:25:39 PM
Here's the thing...you can show a lot without actually showing anything... Also, who knows if the Dany plotline is going to come through in this first season? I mean the Stark v. Lannister thing is solid enough to carry a season.
Jordan vs. Martin by shellfishh	Nov 11th, 2008 11:31:58 PM
Robert Jordan shouldn't and his crap never-ending wheel of boredom books shouldn't be allowed to be mentioned in the same talkback as George R. R. Martin. But Martin better put down the hoagie, do a little jogging and finish the damn books!
On the bright side.... by shellfishh	Nov 11th, 2008 11:32:50 PM
I see a role for Danny Devito.....
half the cast is gonna have their faces cut off by crazybubba	Nov 11th, 2008 11:44:58 PM

by lsleelee	Nov 11th, 2008 11:47:58 PM
I'm surprised the Hollywood Reporter could spell all those words.
Every episode.... by shellfishh	Nov 11th, 2008 11:50:02 PM
Every episode should start with a disclaimer...."These 80 characters you are about to meet? Don't get too attached to ANY of them."
Really Excited by G8kpr	Nov 12th, 2008 12:11:13 AM
I'm really excited about this and glad that Martin is involved quite a bit. What I don't get are the talkbackers that bitch about all the "stuff" that will be left out, or all the characters that will be barely mentioned. It's an ADAPTION!!! If you want all those characters and bits and pieces, READ THE BOOKS, thats what they're there for. Movies based on books, and TV series based on novels aren't trying to be a word for word adaptation, because then you'd need about 60 hrs at least, for just one book. Much of which would be tedious. I can't wait to see this, unfortunately I don't get HBO, hopefully showcase, bravo, or A&E will air it. If not, guess it's off to the torent sites.
"AintItCoolNews-targeted direction" by BadMrWonka	Nov 12th, 2008 12:20:07 AM
you are officially in the public lexicon! you been poking the tip in for years, but now you're officially an audience-reference. go Harry! so far from your cluttered computer desk beginnings!
This is the greatest news ever posted on Ain't it Cool News! by Stereotypical Evil Archer	Nov 12th, 2008 01:26:00 AM
A great story awaits those who refuse to read.
WIll never happen. America is not ready for by V'Shael	Nov 12th, 2008 01:37:56 AM
that level of coolness.
Martin has posted about it on his blog... by ChickenDelicious	Nov 12th, 2008 01:39:17 AM
He says he's pleased, and that he found the script to be very faithful to his book. I can't wait. This is great, great news.
Wait a second....yep, I just wet myself! by Nerdgasm	Nov 12th, 2008 01:43:35 AM
This is awsome news! Finally, a chance at a epic fantasy series, where people can say "fuck", chicks can whip out their boobs (and maybe put a little bush out there too?), and blood and guts can be spilled at will! How fucking cool is that? Not only is this a great story but it's going to the one network that can do it justice...it's like a perfect storm for fantasy geeks like myself. I'm pumped.
WILD CARDS! by Bob Cryptonight	Nov 12th, 2008 01:52:12 AM
That would be a cool limited series on cable! All the stories with the Astronomer up through the Swarm! Sex, horrible violence and superheroes!
Nooooooooooo! These Books Are Bad! by J Skell	Nov 12th, 2008 01:55:14 AM
Qualifier: I love genre entertainment. I really do. I love sci-fi. I love fantasy. I love lots of stuff. But these books are cringe-inducingly awful. I read the first one and the first 2/3 of the book aren't actually that bad. Not bad at all. But then the problems come fast and furious after a major event. 1) They go NOWHERE. GRR Martin so doesn't have a plan for anything happening and if he does it's taking him so long to get there it's like pulling teeth. 2) Everything just starts getting completely miserable. I like war realism and all but it takes such relevance in mundane depravity that soon the books just become a long list of awful stuff that happens. Really. There's no arc. It just becomes characters wandering around in miserable situations with nothing interesting about that misery. and 3) this is the worst of all. You practically feel GRR getting his jones off when he writes the sex scenes. Really. It's complete and total masturbatory writing. I've never seen anything so evident in a book (I have definitely in screenplays though). It's like nails on a chalkboard. It got to the point in the third book where I just threw it across the room in disgust. Especially after ruining the promise of the first 2/3 in the first book. As a series though? The first season has some real potential to be decent. Seasons 2 and 3 are screwed in my opinion if they stick to that nonsense source material. Sorry bad books just make me depressed. I'm going to go read Cannery Row for the 20th time.
Wee Man could play the midget guy by wintocha67	Nov 12th, 2008 02:02:00 AM
Yeah, there's a little person in the book, not a fantasy dwarf, a real midget type person.
If nothing else... by The Nihilist	Nov 12th, 2008 02:02:59 AM
...this will be a story not marinated in lefty politics, a real change for HBO lately. Thank God.
@ J Skell by arizonahotrock	Nov 12th, 2008 02:15:53 AM
So...you "read the first one" yet know exactly how the 3rd book goes? Just...just shut up.
J Skell is a troll trolling. Find a better bridge to hide under. by Stereotypical Evil Archer	Nov 12th, 2008 03:17:34 AM

an "AintItCoolNews-targeted direction"? by newc0253	Nov 12th, 2008 03:40:52 AM
if HBO is keen to chase this demographic, i'm very happy to make suggestions... I read the first 100 pages of Game of Thrones btw then stalled. It is very much sword minus sorcery, fantasy without magic (although i understand this changes later on). To me, it read more like historical fiction except in some alternate medieval universe, with plenty of byzantine intrigue. I haven't given up on it but the extremely lo-fi approach to fantasy isn't the most compelling out of the gate. it strikes me that, if HBO were smart, the best way to approach this would be to approach this like a fantasy version of ROME. it has that whole plotting and treachery vibe and ROME was one of the best things i've seen on tv.
RE: Wild Cards... by Wungolioth	Nov 12th, 2008 05:35:34 AM
GRR Martin was the editor on Wild Cards with many authors writing individual stories or storylines in a book. The networks may find the idea of trying to work out the payments to all those involved a daunting task. They could be making a show that would put something like "Heroes" to shame, with a rich, original history. Unfortunately, I'm sure some of the stories and characters would put them off, hopefully someone will see past that someday.
Winter Is Coming. by RaveX	Nov 12th, 2008 05:40:55 AM
and about damn time, too... 1 novel per season? if they start first season in 2009., sometime in late 2011/early 2012 people will be going "OMFG-NO-THEY-DID-NOT!" a lot.
Benioff is the man, but this won't fly by cowboyone	Nov 12th, 2008 06:56:32 AM
There's no audience for this type of fantasy material. There are ten surviving dungeons and dragons fans that are interested in watching guys with mullets clank around in armor. Is that a large enough audience to sustain a show?!
Winter is never coming... by MJohnson	Nov 12th, 2008 06:58:14 AM
Maybe he should be spending his time actually writing the g*ddamn series instead of undertaking yet another project...when was the most recent book in the series due? 1972? Martin is in serious danger of jumping the shark the way Robert Jordan did with the whole Wheel of Endless Time series. At this rate, Martin will pull a Jordan and keel over before he finishes.
re: JSkell by raw_bean	Nov 12th, 2008 07:14:22 AM
If you read his full post, he said he read up until some part of the third book (before throwing it across the room). I made it further than him: I finished that 3rd book because I just can't NOT finish a book I started, but I tend to agree with his opinion of them.
Best. News. Ever. by BackStJoe	Nov 12th, 2008 07:22:13 AM
After the Obama election that is... These are some amazing books and a full season per book sounds incredible.
I assume the kids will be older? by CreatureCantina	Nov 12th, 2008 07:37:02 AM
I can't imagine HBO going for the 13-year-old girls getting married and having sex part.
Well if it's half as good as Rome I'm there by skycrapper	Nov 12th, 2008 07:40:08 AM
Cause Rome kicked ass. True Blood is not bad either.
YES!!!!! by Sean38	Nov 12th, 2008 07:45:20 AM
These are, by a VERY wide margin, the best fantasy books being written today. If you've not read them, do yourself a favor and get out to a book store at lunch today and pick up A Game of Thrones. You'll barely be able to bring yourself to read any more fantasy when you're done. The books are THAT good. This is awesome news.
Whoo-hoo! Awesome news. by Zeke2517	Nov 12th, 2008 07:46:42 AM
Hope this gets picked up. One of the best series of books I've read. Would make a class TV show.
Never ever listen to Aintitcool readers by theycallmemrglass	Nov 12th, 2008 07:48:46 AM
We are a small bunch of selfish cunts who just bitch about what we dont like and what we like to see with no fucking idea of how to make a film or tv show tick for the majority of TV audience. Aint it Cool is a place to bitch cos it makes us feel good. Go with your own gut instincts for what will make this series tick. So dont listen to us. Listen to me. hello? you hear me. Dont listen to us. What you fucking deaf? Listen to me!
Wow, thought it would never happen. . . by Nice Marmot	Nov 12th, 2008 08:20:07 AM
. . . but they are insane thinking they can do a book justice in just one season. It would be damn hard to do half of Thrones in a season. So where are the casting choices? This talkbook should be full of them by now? Warwick Davis for Tyrion anyone?
The Next Rome by WerePlatypus	Nov 12th, 2008 08:22:38 AM
Yes! I didn't think this was going to happen. . . it looked to me like HBO was done with big budget seeing what they've come out with lately. This is awesome news and I love this series. . . . GGRM is close to finishing the fifth book, leaving only two more to get written in the next six years. He's only fiftyish, and I don't think he has kids.
Only is America? by WerePlatypus	Nov 12th, 2008 08:26:07 AM
One thing all the haters have to realize is that these books are WORLDWIDE best sellers. The resonate across the pond, unlike Terry not-so-Goodkind. I know that figures into HBO's decision to greenlight this thing, and may explain why they're shelling out the bucks.
Nice Marmot by RaveX	Nov 12th, 2008 09:04:41 AM
Warwick Davis for Tyrion, EVERYONE.
Hercules, have you ever read a book in your life? by Leafar the Lost	Nov 12th, 2008 09:34:59 AM
"These are apparently very long, grown-up fantasy novels, with thousands of characters – the major ones quite flawed and complex - and lots of sex, violence and political intrigue." George R.R. Martin's book, "A Game of Thrones", does not have thousands of characters and it really isn't that long when compared to other novels. I suppose it would be very long for a person who only reads articles off the internet. Maybe you should actually read some of the book before commenting on it. You would discover that the stories of the characters in the book are not that complex. However, for someone who "apparently" doesn't read paper novels, then you are right, it would be impossibly complex, because it requires an average level intellect to understand the book. I am very happy that HBO is doing this, because we can see all of the sex and violence that is detailed in the book. Those of us who have not read the book, like Hercules, will be very surprised at the high death rate of major characters in the novel(s). I just hope it doesn't suck.
Very cool by Cobbio	Nov 12th, 2008 09:39:38 AM
I've read all the "Song of Ice and Fire" books, and am very interested to see how the story translates to screen. I must say, I'm happy to see Benioff, Weiss, and GRR Martin himself writing for this series. All of these guys have done solid, compelling work in the past. Yes, I'm sure several characters will be cut out for the HBO series, and yes, I'm sure some of the graphic sex and brutality (especially the wedding... yeesh), will at least be edited down. But then again, this is HBO. Some of the scenes from "Deadwood" and "The Sopranos" were graphic, even harrowing, so maybe this pilot will be too. I'm very intested to see snowy Stark castle, The Wall, Jaime Lannister, John Snow, the Stark wolves, and the intercut landscapes of the north and south. Add in adult-oriented humor, longstanding royal incest, grisly treacheries, and the Stark children fleeing toward their respective destinies, and it'll be at least a hundred times better than any fantasy movie we've seen this year. The fact GRR Martin himself is writing for the show gives me the sense he likes where it's going and how it'll be handled. I'll be excited to see this.
RaveX by WerePlatypus	Nov 12th, 2008 09:41:08 AM
Might be a good call on Davis, he's got the right look . . . but Tyrion is also quite a bit younger. This has been mentioned before. . . but I think Peter Dinklage is perfect. He actually has mad acting chops, and I figure they could always bulk him out a little and ugly him up with makeup/costuming.
Phone calls by Cobbio	Nov 12th, 2008 09:46:14 AM
I agree, WerePlaypus, Peter Dinklage would be perfect for Tyrion. Dinklage has a funky edge to him, a cutting intelligence that would work nicely for Tyrion. I could see Peter sinking his teeth deep into the role. But Dinklage isn't the only actor who could try Tyrion for size. Other actors could pull it off, too. But I'm sure HBO has made phone calls.
Warwick Davis? NO! by Sean38	Nov 12th, 2008 09:51:04 AM
Peter Dinklage. Case closed.
Re: Jordan, dying and jumping the shark. by Fawst	Nov 12th, 2008 09:52:56 AM
Jordan rules. If you don't think so, go cry. And I know most of you are being sarcastic, but come on... it's not the guy's fault that he died from a rare form of cancer. What IS his fault is that he decided to write a prequel novel before he sat down and finished the fucking series. But in case you missed the memo, the final book IS being written. And Jordan dictated the whole fucking thing. So while it won't be his words on the page, so to speak, it WILL be his will. As far as jumping the shark goes... yah, I got nothing. I'm in the middle of re-reading Eye of the World. First time in a post-LOTR reality. I have to say, as much as I really want them adapted, I'm afraid too many people will cry "RIPOFF!" He certainly "borrows" (I'll be nice) themes, but he created his own world. I'm glad that we're getting Wizard's First Rule and Game of Thrones first. We need to pad the fantasy landscape with adapted works before the world will accept a Wheel of Time.
Sean38, WerePlatypus by RaveX	Nov 12th, 2008 10:11:20 AM
hmmm, funny thing... as I was making my "Warwick Davis for Tyrion" post earlier, I was just starting to watch second narnia. midway trough it started to realize that dinglage's constant pissed off performance could be right for tyrion. it's just that I'm sucker for willow (yeah, I know...), and every time I was reading SOIAF davis was the one I was seeing as tyrion. dinklage, on the other hand, is a constant reminder at the back of my head that I watched all of the godawful threshold series. and no amount of carla gugino is worth putting yourself trough that.
The Good Stuff by Cobbio	Nov 12th, 2008 10:18:25 AM
I'm much more interested in seeing "Game of Thrones" adapted than "Eye of the World," Fawst. Jordan put years and years of work into his series, and the result is what it is. Some people like its PG-13 longwindedness, which is fine for gamer types, but Martin's dramatic, unpredictable, hard R-rated storytelling one-upped Jordan in many ways. Yes, Rand al-Thor's story is huge and long and drawn-out, but a better author would've told the story in three or four books instead of eleven. I disagree "we need to pad the fantasy landscape with adapted works before the world will accept the Wheel of Time." We don't need to pad the landscape with anything. We need HBO, movie studios, and other media outlets to tell good stories. I, personally, don't think "Wheel of Time" is any kind of benchmark to move up to once you've "padded" the landscape. I respect what Jordan was able to accomplish, but I'm no longer much of a fan. GRR Martin's books kick the shit out of "Wheel of Time" on almost every level. Thus I'm glad they didn't use "Wheel of Time" to pad the fantasy landscape for "Song of Ice and Fire." They went right to good stuff.
could be interesting by palewook	Nov 12th, 2008 10:20:36 AM
which hasn't been something i've said about many hbo projects for the past couple of years
To all those non-readers... by andtheflesh	Nov 12th, 2008 10:20:40 AM
...Game of Thrones is less Lord of the Rings and more Rome. This is barely fantasy. A lot of these characters are downright brutal. The treachery in these novels makes Brutus look loyal. Get ready for plenty of scenes of medieval prostitution, class warfare, public executions, incest, gang rape, and battlefields full of slaughter. If Game of Thrones isn't the most shocking thing you've ever seen on HBO then they won't have adapted the books faithfully.
Addendum: by andtheflesh	Nov 12th, 2008 10:22:30 AM
I cannot fucking wait to see more on this. My excitement for this supercedes Watchmen levels of anticipation.
Tyrion by andtheflesh	Nov 12th, 2008 10:25:45 AM
Michael J. Anderson from Carnivale would make a great Tyrion as well. Though, I gotta say, I'd prefer Dinklage as well.
Peter Dinklage is older than Warwick Davis by FailureAtTheCave	Nov 12th, 2008 10:35:16 AM
not younger
Casting Suggestions: by Mr.Meanie	Nov 12th, 2008 10:40:20 AM
Dennis Hopper as Tywin Lannister Leo DiCaprio as Jaime Lannister Jaime Bell as Jon Snow
With all the Vampire obsession recently... by Marillion	Nov 12th, 2008 10:47:43 AM
Martin's "Fevre Dream" would be a better choice, at least for a mini-series.. It's by far a more compelling story than most of the current vampire stuff out there.
FUCK YES! by scrivener	Nov 12th, 2008 10:48:21 AM
Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes. I can't imagine a better set of circumstances for these novels. An HBO series... one book per season... written by Martin himself? FUCK YES!
I wish the Watchmen was on HBO instead of being... by Leafar the Lost	Nov 12th, 2008 11:01:22 AM
...condensed into a two hour movie. As I read it, again, I saw that each chapter was it's own story. It could have been a 12 episode mini-series on HBO. To properly tell the story, it needs to be 12 hours long, and told over the course of a season. There is no way that the entire Watchmen comic book can be filmed in one, 2 hour long movie. Most of the story will be cut out, and the rest won't make much sense. I would have preferred unknown actors/actresses and a low budget, because this story doesn't require the 100 million dollar, Hollywood movie suck-fest treatment. It's actually an anti-superhero story, which tells us what would really happen to our world if superheroes actually existed. Anyway, G.R.R. Martin needs to hurry up and finish writing his books, because I saw a recent picture of him and he looks like Jordan did before he died.
Awesome News by rodnunley	Nov 12th, 2008 11:19:12 AM
Best news I've heard all week. This series is amazing and this has to be every fan of the books wet dream ... it's like we say of very comic or book we love ... "It'd bebest as an HBO series." Well for us George RR Martin fanboys that day has arrived.
It's Christmas! by Sackratte	Nov 12th, 2008 11:21:41 AM
I still can't believe they are doing it! Now I only can hope they are doing it right.
First two books rock by menacingphantom	Nov 12th, 2008 11:38:49 AM
Okay, the first two are really the best modern fantasy books, period. But by #4 he seems to have lost the thread completely. When he's not introducing poorly fleshed out new characters he's telling the stories of minor characters. It's like he was spinning his wheels because he couldn't decide what to do with the major folks and storylines. I hope he gets over this for Dance With Dragons.
I might actually have to subscibe to HBO by drewlicious	Nov 12th, 2008 11:49:44 AM
I love these books. And I agree that Peter Dinklage would be pitch perfect. Plus I'll finally learn how some of these names are actually pronounced.
Sorry, looked it up on Wikipedia... by Kid Z	Nov 12th, 2008 11:52:37 AM
...and it's the gayest sounding thing I've heard since, well since this morning when Connecticut legalized gay marriage. Lame!
Great news by The Ref	Nov 12th, 2008 12:04:29 PM
Please be awesome, and please get picked up for series.
Thanks by Cobbio	Nov 12th, 2008 12:05:43 PM
Nice, Kid Z. Way to indict not only your lack of book knowledge, but also your hateful, anti-gay nature in general. I feel sorry for you. But at least you provided us with such a nice braindead opinion. So thanks!
Well, he's got multiple initial in his name by punto	Nov 12th, 2008 12:13:07 PM
that must mean he's a serious writer, not some comic-con aintitcoolnews-targetted funnybook writer.
now we need PERN and Dragonlance to be made by j2talk	Nov 12th, 2008 12:18:32 PM

Why would anyone try to appeal to the AICN crowd by chrth	Nov 12th, 2008 12:27:53 PM
Aren't we the ones responsible for Snakes on a Plane crashing and burning because we pushed for the Hard R? A PG-13 rating and that movie would've made more its opening weekend than it did its entire run.
I'm IN! by Clarence Boddicker	Nov 12th, 2008 12:46:08 PM
The second this comes out I'm signing up with HBO. Christmas come early indeed! Now who can they cast as Tyrion I wonder...and will they show him coming close to deflowering a 14 year girl? I think not...even if it is historically accurate...and no...I don't condone such actions.
by mistakeagian	Nov 12th, 2008 12:49:55 PM
I think this could be awesome! After all George RR Martin did do the Beauty and the Beast series with Ron Perlman. God, get him in as Stannis and all is well. I doubt he could part from being the leader of a biker gang though...
cowboyone by Liberty Valance	Nov 12th, 2008 12:57:07 PM
"There's no audience for this type of fantasy material." You win the award for Most Retarded Comment of All Time. Every book in the series is a worldwide bestseller. LOTR grossed over $1 billion. MMOs like World of Warcraft, Conan, Guild Wars et al boast tens of millions of subscribers. Then you have millions of HBO fans lamenting the loss of the gritty violence of Rome and Deadwood. But no one wants to see this, right? Go back to cleaning bathrooms for a living, because you know fuckall about the entertainment business.
Oh my fucking God! by Charlie_Allnut	Nov 12th, 2008 01:08:57 PM
Thank you! Its about time! If this is done right it will be one of the most addictive crazy shows ever...I mean so many main characters get killed off I don't know how average viewers will react...just please get the team behind Rome on board! And George needs to finish the fucking books already!!
AICN crowd doesn't like anything by MattmanReturns	Nov 12th, 2008 01:11:27 PM
And has no influence on whether something succeeds or fails. So I don't think HBO really cares what anybody here thinks.
Excellent by Werthead	Nov 12th, 2008 01:11:59 PM
HBO and SONG OF ICE AND FIRE were made to work together. Terrific news all around. One correction: George RR Martin isn't writing the whole of the series. He still has two (and a little bit of a third) books to write to finish off the series. The series itself is being written by David Benioff and DB Weiss. GRRM has an option allowing him to write one episode of each season. I agree that WHEEL OF TIME would also make an excellent series (although a different tone to ASoIaF), although HBO couldn't do it. Each season would need to cover more than one book, at least two for its first half and then three-per-season for its second to make the story really work, so it would need to be network, and then it wouldn't have the budget it needs. It's academic though. Universal are developing EYE OF THE WORLD as a 2-hour movie, which means two-thirds of the book are going to be left on the cutting-room floor.
BIG yes on Pern novels, especially the early ones. by Ninja Nerd	Nov 12th, 2008 01:15:36 PM
The Pern novels are sci-fi, not fantasy or D&D crap, and done right, would be EXCELLENT. I'm not that jazzed about the later books with son Todd co-writing. The original trilogy would be 3 seasons worth of good stuff, however.
HBO & BBC are gonna tap into the Hobbit/Tolkien market... by Stereotypical Evil Archer	Nov 12th, 2008 01:58:20 PM
and the aging Harry Potter demographic that will want something more serious and intense. It's a brilliant move to make a quality mythic dark age drama. There's going to lots of new subscribers, but the eventual blue-ray DVDs of Game of Thrones will absolutely dominate.
THE HEDGE KNIGHT should be the pilot. by Stereotypical Evil Archer	Nov 12th, 2008 01:59:07 PM
This way if the series does not advance then we at least have THE HEDGE KNIGHT; which would really make a great movie. It’s been adapted into a graphic novel so it’s essentially already storyboarded.
HBO should make THE HEDGE KNIGHT as a movie. by Stereotypical Evil Archer	Nov 12th, 2008 02:01:14 PM
They could use the sets and equipment from A GAME OF THRONES and make a great movie on the cheap.
"two-thirds of [Eye of the World] are going to be left by chrth	Nov 12th, 2008 02:16:13 PM
on the cutting room floor." Thank. Xenu.
This is great!! by CrazyGnome	Nov 12th, 2008 02:18:48 PM
and makes up for the delay in publishing the next book. Alls well again RR Martin. :P
Peter Dinklage for President by ides	Nov 12th, 2008 02:46:59 PM
Errr, I mean Tyrion. He would steal every scene he is in. He projects exactly the right kind of wry worldniness needed. Perfect casting, though he'd need a lot of makeup to look how he's described in the text. Hands down the juiciest role in the books, and he's a terrific actor.
Madonna as Cersei Lannister by BiggusDickus	Nov 12th, 2008 03:02:35 PM
Brian Blessed as King Robert Baratheon Saoirse Ronan as Arya Stark Viggo Mortensen as Eddard Stark The Rock as Sandor Clegane Orlando Bloom as Loras Tyrell Famke Janssen as Melisandre of Asshai Hulk Hogan as Tormund Giantsbane (and why not?) ...Man, I'll be playing 'Biggus's Dream Casting' all over Christmas, which, with this news, has come early!
I would be a lot happier IF by johnnyangel	Nov 12th, 2008 03:29:50 PM
GRRM finished the series first. Each new book takes longer than the last. I hope he leaves copious notes so his estate can piece together a conclusion after his sad demise.
Why do I smell 2 seasons then cancelled? by crayon	Nov 12th, 2008 03:51:43 PM
Got absolutely no familiarity with the books but would I be wrong in assuming that it'll be horribly expensive to shoot and unlikely to beat Deadwood/Rome/Carnivale ratings?
Random examples of bad casting by ides	Nov 12th, 2008 04:54:16 PM
Jeff Goldblum as Sandor Clegane. Carrot Top (I hear he's buffed up) as Beric Dondarrion. Tim Allen as Eddard Stark. Richard Karn (of Al Borland fame) as Jorah Mormont.
The only casting idea I have... by ebonic_plague	Nov 12th, 2008 06:48:26 PM
...is Dick Butkus as Jorah Mormont, aka "The Old Bear." Oh, and I defy anyone to think of a better casting idea than Ron Pearlman for Sandor Clegane, aka "The Hound."
It won't go two seasons then get cancelled... by Pops Freshemeyer	Nov 12th, 2008 07:08:27 PM
It'll go three and a half and then nothing else will happen because Martin won't finish the series...he'll be getting punked by a Twinkie and pizza induced heart attack long before he's halfway through the sixth book...
1991-2008 - The Fuzzy Math by WerePlatypus	Nov 12th, 2008 08:19:25 PM
17 years for five books (assuming dance of dragons comes out this year). That's 3.4 years per book. That means that book 6 comes out around 2011-12, and book 7 comes out in 2015. If the series begins filming in 2009 (for season one in 2010), he'll be through book 6 before filming begins in 2014 (for season six in 2015), and he'll just be finished with book 7 when filming begins in 2015 (for season seven in 2016). It's possible . . . but at least pretty assured he'll be done with the first six books! ALSO. . . he is now 60 years old, meaning he will be about 67-68 years old when the seventh book is finished. According to the US mortality table, the average expected lifespan for an adult white male at 60 years of age is 82.2. Fans require a mere seven of those years at the front end for him to finish the series. . . I THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE OF SEEING THE END!!
HBO, Fantasy, Gang Rapes, Incest, yea that'll do. by lb_12	Nov 12th, 2008 09:36:43 PM
Seriously, these books are Adult Fantasy. Not your average wizard and dwarf fare. Much more character driven story about honor, betrayal, power, etc. And they involve a LOT of sex, rape, incest, etc. all the debauchery HBO loves to show. Much like OZ, I predict 1 rape about every other episode.
IF people can actually handle this...... by gooseud	Nov 12th, 2008 09:51:45 PM
then this truly is the coolest news that AICN has posted in....forever? I'm not sure the audience at large can actually handle these books, but they are unquestionably the best fantasy series of all time....yes, better then LOTR......yes, I said it.
Martin has a hand in it, so it should be faithful... by Stereotypical Evil Archer	Nov 12th, 2008 10:38:20 PM
to a point. Martin wrote for television for many years, he has the experience to understand what compromises must be made to tell his story in a different format. We lose something from the books, but we can gain other things from the visual medium. So we won't see every character or every story line; but 12 episodes can do a lot. The odds are against the whole series being made, but you never know. In the long run it will be profitable for everyone involved, but does HBO know how to look into future? Here's hoping they do. Here's hoping the show will be great.
Hell yeah! by seniorspeilbergio	Nov 13th, 2008 12:35:26 AM
You know that watered down kiddie fantasy, all shot in New Zeland with the cookie cutter storylines about kids with secret destinies and "Chosen Ones"? CGI magic in every other scene until it looses all its potentcy? Yeah, kiss them goodbye. All done. See ya later. This story, when unleashed on the world will be THE GAME CHANGER when it comes to the fantasy genre. This is the next evolution of fantasy storytelling after Tolkien himself. This is going to be absolutely fucking awesome. And for casting, how about Gene Hackman for Commander Mormont "The Old Bear", Harvey Kietel for Davos Seaworth, "the Onion Knight" and Jeff Bridges for Eddard Stark. Man, I can't wait for this!
oh, yeah... by seniorspeilbergio	Nov 13th, 2008 12:47:24 AM
and Geoffrey Rush as Littlefinger, Swoozie Kurtz as Lady Arryn, Peter Coyote as Lemoncloak and Anthony Hopkins as Syrio Forrel. Absolute unknowns for everyone else, especially the kids. I can't wait to see peoples reaction to the last shot of the first season finale. People will be staring at the screen, muttering "oh, fuck! What happens next?" They will have a heart attack waiting for the second season to begin.
Casting call by gooseud	Nov 13th, 2008 11:40:16 AM
Dinklage as Tyrion (nothing else is acceptable, he is the only one to play it), Patrick Stewart as Tywin Lannister, Paul "Big Show" Wight as Gregor Clegane, The dream Eddard Stark is Daniel Day Lewis, but doubtful they can get him for obvious reasons......the toughest casting will be the kids, if you cant nail that, you will have a tough time with the series
Seniorspeilbergio, what about by gooseud	Nov 13th, 2008 11:43:39 AM
The "the things I do for love..." scene at the window 100 pages in? Thats when people who havent read the books will be shitting their pants saying "no they didn't....did they? nooooo!"
seniorspeilbergio, gooseud by RaveX	Nov 13th, 2008 11:55:34 AM
yeah, those 2 scenes are pretty heart attack inducing, but... if the series lasts until s03, RED WEDDING WILL FRAKKIN KILL EVERYONE!!!1 (yup. pun intended.)
kids by Himbo	Nov 14th, 2008 02:33:59 PM
There is much commentary about getting the kids right. And problems about kids in very adult situations. The answer is probably just skew all the characters older. Is Arya's story less compelling if she is 14 instead of 9? Dany's story would be much more believable and less creepy were she 20 instead of 14. And if you were the parent of a kid actor, would you want them in this production, if it were really slavishly adherent to the books?
about time.... by blackthought	Nov 15th, 2008 02:31:26 PM
this was announced years ago and i've been waiting since for it to finally reach this stage. i want to play a role dammit. i think i could pull off darkstar...hmm... dinklage is tyrion...i second and third all pearlman as the hound suggestions. and also that grrm needs to finish that oft-delayed next volume before i get grey and old.

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HBO Greenlights Pilot
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HBO Greenlights Pilot For George R.R. Martin’s GAME OF THRONES!!

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HBO Greenlights Pilot
For George R.R. Martin’s
GAME OF THRONES!!