HBO on Thursday confirmed Game of Thrones spin-offs are in the works. The network has inked deals with four writers to explore different time periods of George RR Martin's universe.
It makes sense to come out with prequels or sequels of Game of Thrones, as the show has been a highly successful one for HBO. Martin, whose A Song of Ice and Fire series was the source material for Game of Thrones, will be involved in the project. But the series' longtime executive producers, Dan Weiss and David Benioff, will take a break after Game of Thrones ends.
"We will support them as they take a much-deserved break from writing about Westeros once the final season is complete," HBO said in a statement.
So what do longtime fans of Game of Thrones think about the idea of spin-offs? Not too pleased, if chatter on social media is any indication. Some clever souls have even come up with hilarious titles for spin-offs such as Keeping up with the Targaryens, Two and a Half Lannisters, Real Housewives of Dorne, The Iron Price is Right, Lannisters and Tiaras.
A good number of fans have even expressed doubts about the new series becoming as popular as the Game of Thrones series. AMC came out with a prequel to Breaking Bad titled Better Call Saul and it has been a success. But Joey, a spin-off of the epic series, Friends, was a complete disaster.
Reacting to the news of Game of Thrones spin-offs, one Reddit user explained why the new shows could be a disaster:
Good news (I guess) but an utterly crappy group of writers with no prior association with the show: Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island, Fox's Minority Report); Jane Goldman (Kingsman: The Secret Service, X-Men: First Class) along with Martin; Brian Helgeland (A Knight's Tale, L.A. Confidential); and Carly Wray (Mad Men) with Martin]… They'd do better to hire some of the script writers from Vikings and The Last Kingdom.
I think I'd rather see a new universe--there are so many great fantasy and/or historical novels that would be perfect for an HBO production. Instead, we get a big risk that these spin-offs could be as bad as Peter Jackson's massacre of The Hobbit or the second season of True Detective. HBO is desperate for a new multi-season hit series.
Season 7 of Game of Thrones will return to HBO on July 16.
