F-YEAH! HBO orders pilot for "A Game of Thrones"

[Norelco]

HBO orders fantasy pilot 'Thrones'

HBO has given a pilot order to fantasy project "Game of Thrones."

The program is based on George R.R. Martin’s bestselling series of novels "A Song of Fire & Ice" and executive produced by David Benioff ("Troy") and D.B. Weiss ("Halo"). The title “Game of Thrones” is from the first novel in the series.

If greenlit, “Thrones” would represent the rarest of TV genres: a full-fledged fantasy series.

Though broadcasters have embraced sci-fi-tinged shows in recent years following the success of ABC’s “Lost” and NBC’s “Heroes,” and supernatural themes have been given a spin by CW’s “Supernatural” and HBO’s own “True Blood,” high fantasy is nearly nonexistent in primetime TV history -- and “Thrones” is an unabashed member of the genre. The books have swords, dragons, magic, the works.

“Fantasy is the most successful genre in terms of feature films given the incredible popularity of ‘Lord of the Rings’ and Harry Potter movies,” Benioff said. “High fantasy has never been done on TV before and if anybody can do it, it’s HBO. They’ve taken tired genres and reinvented them -- mobsters in ‘The Sopranos’ and Westerns with ‘Deadwood.’”

The cost of producing a fantasy series is usually a big factor that deters networks. The producers note “Thrones” is written as a character drama and major battles often take place off stage.

“It’s not a story with a million orcs charging across the plains,” Weiss said. “The most expensive effects are creature effects and there’s not much of that.”

Martin plans seven books in the series. The producers intend for each season to span one novel.

But before the series can get on the air, the producers first have to slay a more formidable threat than any dragon: pilot competitors. HBO has 10 other pilots in contention for series orders. Though the network declines to project how many shows will receive an order since HBO doesn’t need to fill a specific number of time-periods like broadcasters, at least six are expected to get a pickup.

Also, the success of “True Blood” may work in “Thrones'” favor. HBO has always sought to defy any sort of specific genre branding for their network, emphasizing that each project is judged on its own merits. Yet given how the vampire drama continues to gain viewers, and how Showtime’s swords-and-monarchy historical drama “The Tudors” has performed strongly, it’s not unreasonable to believe the network may see “Thrones” as a good fit.

Previous fantasy titles on TV are few and far between. ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” might qualify as a member of the genre, though its fantastical elements are wrapped in a modern day crime procedural. ABC Family’s “Kyle XY” could fit. Some would consider the WB’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fantasy, though supernatural drama is probably a more appropriate term. Former syndicated program “Xena Warrior Princess,” however, is firmly in the genre. NBC’s upcoming “Kings” also qualifies.

Some thoughts: I suspect a fair number of viewers are going to love this idea -- a high fantasy series with a grown-up budget and no content restrictions? Not even the hugely popular movie franchises cited by the producers have offered such a prospect, because no studio greenlights a fantasy budget without the promise of a PG-13 rating. Combined with "True Blood," this also suggests an interesting, AintItCoolNews-targeted direction for the network. Less edgy-PBS, more R-rated Comic Con.

So...who'd like to play along with me on who should be cast?

[Suited Aces]

So...who'd like to play along with me on who should be cast?

It's HBO, they like to recycle actors from old series into their new ones. So you should look there first.

Personally I'd like them to use Ian Mcshane, Swearengen from Deadwood, again.

[Norelco]

It's HBO, they like to recycle actors from old series into their new ones. So you should look there first.

Personally I'd like them to use Ian Mcshane, Swearengen from Deadwood, again.

Who would you have him play though?

Would love it if they got Kevin McKidd back in some fashion,

Spoiler: show

possibly to play Ned even if only for one season (readers will know what I mean).

Lena Headley would play a great Catelyn Stark, but she's probably busy with Terminator (unless that gets canceled).

Dunno who'd I'd cast for the Lannister twins...Jaime and Cersei. Obviously they'd have to be both incredibly good looking.

Oh...would love the guy who played Marc Antony in Rome to play King Robert Baratheon.

[Suited Aces]

Who would you have him play though?

I have no idea, I've never read the series. I'm guessing it's worth reading if they are thinking of making a series about it. Maybe i'll check it out.

[Tristam]

[B]

So...who'd like to play along with me on who should be cast?

Wow, who is going to play Tyrion? As the books have gone along he's become my favorite plotline.

Also, here's hoping dance with dragons is finished this spring

[Tristam]

I have no idea, I've never read the series. I'm guessing it's worth reading if they are thinking of making a series about it. Maybe i'll check it out.

Yeah very much worth reading, it's not so much monsters and magic (though that seems to be a growing part of the series), but the interactions between people and the politics are really what set the tone of each book. Many of the characters are morally ambiguous and completely attached to their status in society outside of a couple families, In that respect it's perfect for HBO if you were a fan of shows like Sopranos and Troy.

I would also say there isn't a clear cut protagonist, you really feel like you're reading a fantasy history more than a particular story.

[Suited Aces]

"Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan really turned me off to multi-volume fantasy books. Started out great, then by the 5th book it just went downhill, very little story progression and huge waits between releases.

But I have been looking for something to read lately, and it does sound interesting.

[Koyuki]

Wow, who is going to play Tyrion? As the books have gone along he's become my favorite plotline.

Also, here's hoping dance with dragons is finished this spring

Verne Troyer? Maybe but that would be absolutely horrible.

[Norelco]

Verne Troyer? Maybe but that would be absolutely horrible.

LOL, someone on another forum suggested Danny Devito.

[Man0warr]

Song of Ice and Fire doesn't drop off like Wheel of Time, but he is taking his sweet time on the 5th book, probably to get this HBO deal done. I've read alot of books but this is by far my favorite series, with Malazan a close second - the author holds nothing sacred and main characters can die at the drop of a hat.

Wonder how they are going to deal with all the incest in the first two books.

[Penthesilea]

Song of Ice and Fire doesn't drop off like Wheel of Time, but he is taking his sweet time on the 5th book, probably to get this HBO deal done. I've read alot of books but this is by far my favorite series, with Malazan a close second - the author holds nothing sacred and main characters can die at the drop of a hat.

Wonder how they are going to deal with all the incest in the first two books.

They had incest in Rome, I don't see how it'll be any different in how they treat it.

[Man0warr]

I never watched Rome so didn't know. I don't have HBO either so go go torrents.

[Norelco]

I never watched Rome so didn't know. I don't have HBO either so go go torrents.

Rome was fantastic. I expect A Game of Thrones to have production levels at least as good as that show. Hopefully.

I dunno how they're going to pull this off. There's literally dozens/hundreds of cast members. Cost-wise though it's a good thing because they're always being killed off.

[Penthesilea]

That makes me upset you never watched Rome. I thought they did an excellent job with it.

I was just about to cancel my HBO subscription but I think I'll keep it now.

[Tristam]

LOL, someone on another forum suggested Danny Devito.

LOOOOL

Seriously it'd have to be someone pretty good to capture the assholeish sarcastic wit of tyrion.

Also, not to be a downer, but what do you think the odds are that they'll entirely remove some plotlines or put them way in the background? I could see them removing the Daenerys plotline entirely for the first season since it obviously doesn't entirely tie into the westeros succession yet.

[Penthesilea]

It's going to be a lot more difficult touching on the different plot lines and keeping people interested.

The book's chapters aren't in chronological order, I'm not sure how they plan on doing this seeing how this is what makes the books more interesting.

[Ksandra]

Wow, who is going to play Tyrion? As the books have gone along he's become my favorite plotline.

Also, here's hoping dance with dragons is finished this spring

Warrick Davis! I always love that guyin all his movies! :O

Don't think he'd mind doing it either. I remember watching him in an interview and he said as much as he knows how bad the Leprechaun movies are, they were the most fun to play. So he might go for this.

[tyven]

Rome was fantastic. I expect A Game of Thrones to have production levels at least as good as that show. Hopefully.

I dunno how they're going to pull this off. There's literally dozens/hundreds of cast members. Cost-wise though it's a good thing because they're always being killed off.

Rome was so fricking great. also the huge cast shouldnt be a problem, deadwood and the wire both had a ridiculous amount of characters.

[Bweigelt]

LOOOOL

Seriously it'd have to be someone pretty good to capture the assholeish sarcastic wit of tyrion.

Also, not to be a downer, but what do you think the odds are that they'll entirely remove some plotlines or put them way in the background? I could see them removing the Daenerys plotline entirely for the first season since it obviously doesn't entirely tie into the westeros succession yet.

They will probably remove something, but GRRM is overseeing all the scripts I believe, as well as writing one episode per season himself so I have faith whatever they remove will be done right.