Why George R.R. Martin Rejected A Cameo In HBO’s Sport Of Thrones

In 2019, George R.R. Martin watched, together with the remainder of the world, as “Sport of Thrones” ended not with a bang however with a whimper. In response to the writer, who penned the supply materials “A Track of Ice and Fireplace,” he might have bodily appeared within the last season if he’d wished to … however he declined the supply when it got here from showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

“David and Dan invited me to a cameo in one of many last episodes, which I used to be tempted to do,” Martin advised Leisure Weekly again in February of 2019, earlier than the collection lastly concluded. “However I did not suppose only for the sake of a cameo I might take the time to return to Belfast.” Martin lives in New Mexico full time, and to be honest to the writer, that is a actually lengthy trek to make only for a brief look. There’s additionally the truth that the final season of “Sport of Thrones” actually, actually stunk, but it surely’s attainable that Martin did not know that simply but; season 8 did not really conclude till Could of that 12 months, at which level followers went completely wild over the truth that they hated the finale (to the purpose the place they really penned a petition asking for HBO to do it once more, however higher).

Because it seems, George R.R. Martin did seem on-screen in “Sport of Thrones” — form of. He simply by no means really made it to air. In that very same chat with Leisure Weekly — the place Martin spoke with James Hibberd, who would go on to writer the oral historical past “Fireplace Can’t Kill a Dragon” concerning the making of all the collection — Martin revealed to Hibberd that he filmed a cameo for the primary pilot that David Benioff and D.B. Weiss produced for HBO.

“There was a cameo within the authentic pilot that was lower,” Martin recalled. “I used to be a visitor at [Daenerys Targaryen’s] marriage ceremony. However that was when she was performed by Tamzin Service provider so all that footage obtained thrown out after we recast with Emilia Clarke.” Hardcore “Sport of Thrones” followers know that, earlier than the true pilot was made, Benioff and Weiss’ first try went disastrously fallacious. No one might determine why it was so taboo to see Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in flagrante, as a result of no person watching realized that they have been associated (they’re twins, level in truth). Service provider, as Martin talked about, additionally wasn’t the precise match for Daenerys and was later changed by Emilia Clarke; Jennifer Ehle, the unique Catelyn Stark, confronted the identical destiny (with Michelle Fairley assuming the function for the precise present). As well as, a younger horse current throughout Daenerys and Drogo’s “first” marriage ceremony obtained … a little bit too excited (one thing Martin could have witnessed throughout filming, although he did not particularly point out that entire ordeal). It was a catastrophe, all in all, so it is sensible that Martin’s cameo ended up on the reducing room ground completely.

“Sport of Thrones” has been over for fairly a while now, however George R.R. Martin remains to be concerned in on-screen variations set in his fictional world of Westeros — and is seemingly not sitting down to write down the long-awaited sixth e-book in “A Track of Ice and Fireplace,” titled “The Winds of Winter” — and he not too long ago weighed in on the collection’ first huge spin-off and his misgivings about some issues. After season 2 of “Home of the Dragon,” the “Sport of Thrones” prequel collection that chronicles the Targaryen civil battle generally known as the Dance of the Dragons many years earlier than the unique present begins, Martin took to his weblog Not a Weblog in a (now-deleted) put up to bemoan a few of the modifications made by showrunner Ryan Condal. (Within the course of, he additionally managed to spoil a serious season 3 growth, which is maybe why the weblog put up was swiftly deleted.) Even earlier than that put up, nevertheless, Martin was fairly vocal about modifications to the Home Targaryen sigils and the dragons themselves on “Home of the Dragon,” so it is secure to say that he has loads of ideas concerning the adaptation of “Fireplace & Blood” (the historic “report” of the Targaryen battle).

Allowing for how a lot Martin has to say about “Home of the Dragon” — and the truth that loads of it’s crucial — it seems like perhaps he will not get requested to seem in any small cameos going ahead. It is nonetheless attainable, although; third time’s the appeal!

“Sport of Thrones” and “Home of the Dragon” are each streaming on Max now.