The controversial final season of HBO‘s mega-hit series Game of Thrones is still being debated among fans. Never mind that it ended months ago. The eighth season became a lightning rod that angered many. They even started a petition titled, “Remake Game of Thrones Season 8 With Competent Writers.” Well, fear not Game of Thrones fans—George R.R. Martin is coming to your literary rescue!

David Beniodff; D.B. Weiss; Game of Thrones
Here, there be dragons. (Image: HBO)

A German newspaper, Welt, interviewed the Game of Thrones author to get his take, and it appears the written story is getting a different ending. He has two books remaining to finish out A Song of Ice and Fire, and he’s been working on them a long time. For some fans, too long. A burning question simmering on their minds for all this time was asked: Will the remaining books follow the same route as the final season?

Game of Thrones: Source Material vs. Pleasing the Masses

Many fans argue that HBO show-runners Weiss and Benioff were lauded for the majority of the show because they had books to work from. Once that dried up, the show took a different tone and turn. In the end, the HBO series outpaced the author’s writing, leaving HBO, Martin, and fans at a difficult crossroad: continue on with the show without the books, or wait for Martin to finish them?

HBO showrunners for Game of Thrones
Dave Benioff and D.B. Weiss. (Image: Art Streiber for Variety)

If he’s anything, George R.R. Martin is thorough and he is going to make sure the final two tomes of this story, called The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring respectively, are exactly right before releasing them. Ravenous fans, and the powers that be over at HBO, wanted their story, and they wanted it now. Undaunted, our producers plunged on. But fans felt like they were left holding the bag.

So What Was George’s Final Answer? Will The Books Be Like The Show?

First, let’s address the rumor of GoT feature-length movies. There won’t be any. Period. HBO owns the rights, and when approached with the idea, here’s what George said:

“At this point in time, it wouldn’t be for me to decide, because HBO controls the film rights for Game of Thrones. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss actually wanted to end the saga after the seventh season with three big movies… The [HBO] executives said, ‘We produce TV shows, we are not in the cinema business.'”

George R.R. Martin

Sorry fans, no Game of Thrones movies are coming. To be fair, the decision wasn’t George’s to make. George has been asked multiple times if his books would mirror the ending we saw on TV. His exact quoted answer in 2019 when he was asked that same question:

“Well…yes, and no, and yes, and no, and yes, and no, and yes.”

George R.R. Martin in 2019
Photo by Anatoly Maltsev/EPA/REX/Shutterstock (8999492b) George R.R. Martin George R. R. Martin visits St.Petersburg, Russia - 16 Aug 2017 US writer George R.R. Martin attends a news conference in St.Petersburg, Russia, 16 August 2017. The author of 'Song of Ice and Fire' series of fantasy novels, which inspired NBO series 'Games of Thrones', visits to take part in St.Petersburg Fantastic Assembly. The event runs from 18 to 21 August.
George R.R. Martin – Photo by Anatoly Maltsev

That is the worst “Who’s on First?” answer I have ever seen in my literary life. That answer makes me wonder if he even knows how he’s going to end his own story. With confusion like that, it’s no wonder the final two books in Game of Thrones have taken so long. To Welt’s credit, they persisted. Asking again about book ending vs. show ending. they got a much better answer:

“People know an ending—but not the ending. The makers of the TV show had overtaken me, which I didn’t expect.”

Geroge R.R. Martin interviewed by Welt in 2020

Sourced from: Men’s Health

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