George R.R. Martin: One Game of Thrones prequel's HBO pickup didn't come at the other's expense

Polygon

In a blog post this afternoon, Martin expressed enthusiasm that Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon was picked up to series while also expressing disappointment that Jane Goldman's pilot he liked to refer to as "The Long Night," starring Naomi Watts, was rejected. Martin writes, however, that he won't write for House of the Dragon until he's finished with his book The Winds of Winter. Martin writes that it wasn't an "either/or" situation when it came to HBO deciding the fate of "The Long Night" (aka Bloodmoon), adding that there is room for a dozen Game of Thrones-related shows. House of the Dragon, he explained, "has been in development for several years (though the title has changed a couple of times during that process).  It was actually the first concept I pitched to HBO when we started talking about a successor show, way back in the summer of 2016." But Martin added: "let me make this perfectly clear… I am not taking on any scripts until I have finished and delivered Winds of Winter.  Winter is still coming, and Winds remains my priority, as much as I’d love to write an episodes of House." Martin also expressed confidence in showrunner House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal, who is new to Westeros, but not to me," he writes. "I first met Ryan when he came to New Mexico to shoot a pilot for a fantasy western that was not picked up.  I visited his set and we became friendly. Later Ryan created and served as showrunner for the SF series Colony, and we had the honor of doing a premiere screening for the show at the Jean Cocteau.   He’s a terrific writer… and a fan of my books since well before we met." In reacting to "The Long Night" pilot not moving forward, Martin writes: "It goes without saying that I was saddened to hear the show would not be going to series.   Jane Goldman is a terrific screenwriter, and I enjoyed brainstorming with her.   I do not know why HBO decided not to go to series on this one, but I do not think it had  to do with House of the Dragon.  This was never an either/or situation.  If television has room enough for multiple CSIs and Chicago shows… well, Westeros and Essos are a lot bigger, with thousands of years of history and enough tales and legends and characters  for a dozen shows.   Heartbreaking as it is to work for years on a pilot, to pour your blood and sweat and tears into it, and  have it come to nought, it’s not at all uncommon.   I’ve been there myself, more than once.   I know Jane and her team are feeling the disappointment just now, and they have all my sympathy… with my thanks for all their hard work, and my good wishes for whatever they do next." ALSO: Emilia Clarke says Conleth Hill revealed himself to be the Game of Thrones coffee cup culprit.