Game of Thrones movie: Warner Bros in early development to bring George R. R. Martin TV hit to big screen

The Nightly

3 Min Read

01 Nov 2024

Actress Emilia Clarke has shared the job security worries of people who've had brain injuries. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP

Game of Thrones might be coming to a cinema near you.

Warner Bros, the studio behind the fantasy franchise, is developing a big screen adventure set in Westeros, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It’s early days and no writer, director or cast have been attached to the gestating project.

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If it goes ahead, it would be the first film to be adapted from George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones books. There had been desires from the Game of Thrones TV showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to wrap up the 2011 series with three movies, but HBO was against it.

Martin had previously expressed support for the idea.

The fantasy title is set in a medieval England-esque fantasy world and deals with warring royal and aristocratic families fighting for control of the throne. There are also supernatural elements such as dragons and ice demons called White Walkers.

First look at The Final Season (8) of Game of Thrones Kit Harington as Jon Snow and Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen – Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO — The world of Game of Thrones is coming to the big screen. Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO Credit: Supplied

Game of Thrones has proven to be lucrative intellectual property for Warner Bros which has leveraged it for the successful eight-season original series as well as spin-off prequel House of the Dragon, which is in production on its third season.

There is also another prequel series called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which Martin created based on his Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. Filming wrapped in September and its six episodes is expected to be released in late-2025.

The original show was a massive commercial and critical hit, earning super-sized ratings, awards and dominated the cultural zeitgeist.

As it was nearing its conclusion, the network started development on four spin-off shows. One of them, Blood Moon, proceeded to film a $US35 million pilot with actors Naomi Watts, Miranda Richardson and Naomi Ackie. Ultimately, Blood Moon wasn’t picked up and HBO went with House of the Dragon instead.

Martin still has two more Game of Thrones books forthcoming, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, but they have been long delayed. He hasn’t published a book in the main series since 2011 but has released tie-ins and spin-offs.

George R. R. Martin, American novelist and short story writer, best known for his series of epic fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire, which was adapted into the HBO series Game of Thrones stands at fictional Winterfell Castle in the grounds of the National Trust property, Castle Ward, where scenes from the series were filmed, before an audience with George at Castle Ward's theatre this evening. (Photo by Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty Images) — George R. R. Martin still owes fans two books. (Photo by Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty Images) Credit: Liam McBurney - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

The idea that Game of Thrones might jump to the big screen fits in with the current direction of Warner Bros. Boss David Zaslav is on the record as saying he wants to further exploit the studio’s existing IP.

“One of the other real strengths of Warner Bros is we talk about the great IP that Warner Bros owns. But, for us, the challenge is that our content, our great IP – Harry Potter, DC, Lord of the Rings – that content has been underused,” he said in 2023.

Warner Bros released eight Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011 and followed it up with three Fantastic Beasts prequels, which was two fewer than planned.

A Harry Potter TV reboot has been confirmed, which is expected to run for seven seasons, one each for every book. It has hired Succession alums writer Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod to spearhead the series that is set to premiere in 2026.

in this image released by Warner Bros., from left, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley are shown in a scene from 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.' (AP Photo / Warner Bros., Murray Close) — A Harry Potter reboot TV show is coming in 2026. (AP Photo / Warner Bros., Murray Close) Credit: SUPPLIED/Supplied

Warner Bros has also scattered its DC Comics projects across both the big and small screen. Colin Farrell’s Penguin character, introduced in cinemas in Matt Reeves’ Batman film, is the lead of his TV show right now.

DC Studios will also launch its new era in 2025 with the first release, a Superman movie, under the stewardship of James Gunn and Peter Safran. The two were put in charge of Warner Bros’ DC slate in late 2022.

The pair’s plans for the next decade span TV shows including Creature Commandos, Paradise Lost and Booster Gold while film projects also include Supergirl (with Australian Milly Alcock in the title role) and The Brave and the Bold, another Batman film.

Earlier this week, DC Studios confirmed Kelly Macdonald has been cast in the upcoming Green Lantern TV show, which will also star Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre.