Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that meetings with writers are underway for a potential series that will be part of the expansion of the franchise at parent company WarnerMedia.
The next Game of Thrones chapter can be animated.
An Animated Game of Thrones drama is in the early stages of development at HBO Max, several sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. Meetings with writers for the adult project, which would be similar to HBO’s Emmy-winning flagship, are already underway. No transactions have been made and there is still a possibility that the animated series will never come to fruition.
Reps for HBO Max declined to comment.
The animated idea is part of a larger strategy to expand the world of creator George RR Martin’s fantasy drama. According to sources, development managers at HBO – led by drama director Francesca Orsi and her group – are working directly with Martin on expanding the expansive Game of Thrones world. (Martin is still under a rich agreement with the cable.)
The expansion of the franchise begins with HBOs House of the Dragon, the prequel recorded live after the series in October 2019. The drama starring Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith will begin in the spring.
Other Game of Thrones ideas are also kicked off for both the premium cable network and streaming sibling HBO Max, including a live action on Martin’s novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg for HBO properly. (No transactions are currently available for Dunk and egg, or.)
Sources note that expansion plans for Game of Thrones was at work long before Disney announced nearly a dozen plans Star Wars and another dozen Marvel TV series for its streamer, Disney +, during its Investors Day in December. While HBO has previously developed a number of others Game of Thrones prequels that do not move forward, the rise of HBO Max placed greater importance on expanding Martin’s vast universe. (All of HBO’s original series appeared on the streamer the day after it aired on the premium cable network.)
HBO Max’s attempt to exploit IP like Harry Potter, DC Comics and titles like Sex and the city is part of a larger strategy to better position its parent, WarnerMedia, for the future. Media movements WarnerMedia, Disney, NBCUniversal and ViacomCBS have restructured over the past year to prioritize their streaming services. Embracing intellectual property is a central part of building streaming services that can appeal to subscribers. (ViacomCBS has Star Trek and is composing a text Godfather drama, for example.)
“In light of the vertical expansion, people need to make choices about the services they want based on what they can offer them,” says a veteran agent. “[HBO Max] going to look in their library and they are going to utilize everything they can. ‘
A version of this story appeared in The Hollywood Reporter magazine on January 27th. Click here to sign up.