- George RR Martin confirms that HBO is working on five or six series in the Game of Thrones universe and that at least one of them is a sequel.
- The continuation would take place after the final season, during Bran Stark's reign, with great media attention focused on Arya and the rest of the Starks.
- HBO is reinforcing the universe with already renewed prequels, such as House of the Dragon and Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, in addition to projects about Nymeria, Aegon and Corlys Velaryon.
- The cancellation of the Jon Snow project does not close the door to future sequels focused on Stark or other new characters in Westeros.
The future of Game of Thrones It's no longer just about prequels set centuries before the original series. In recent months, George RR Martin has dropped that HBO has at least one sequel in development. which would pick up the story after the controversial ending of the eighth seasonSomething that many fans have been asking for for years.
The writer has mentioned this in several public appearances and interviews, making it clear that, along with the already known prequels, Several new productions are currently in development within the universe of Westeros, and that among them there are projects set after Daenerys' reign and the conclusion of The Iron Throne, with special attention to the period in which Bran Stark rules.
A Game of Thrones sequel: what exactly George RR Martin has said
During his participation in the Iceland Noir festival, held in Reykjavik, Martin explained that HBO is currently working on five or six different series. from the A Song of Ice and Fire universe. Most, as he himself clarifies, are prequels, but the fact that has revolutionized the fans is that He directly confirmed that "yes, there is a sequel." Developing.
The author emphasized that He is not writing these projects alone.Instead, it collaborates with different creative teams and writers. This way of working allows HBO explore multiple timelines and different tones within the same universe, while maintaining Martin as the main reference to ensure consistency with the original work.
These statements were reported by the specialized media outlet The seven kingdomsThey suggest that the possible continuation would be set after the end of the seriesthat is, in the middle reign of Bran the Broken And with Sansa reigning as Queen in the North. It is precisely during this period that the finale left several loose ends that could now be revisited on the small screen.
Martin has also insisted that HBO maintains a long-term commitment to the Westeros universeThis is evident in the volume of projects underway and in the network's commitment to continue investing in major fantasy productions, a genre that has worked very well in Europe and especially in countries like Spain, where part of Game of Thrones was filmed with great success.
The context: from a much-criticized ending to the need for a sequel
When Game of Thrones ended in 2019The public's reaction was, to say the least, divided. Many spectators were left dissatisfied with the resolution of the plotsto the point that the ending is often cited as one of the most discussed in recent television. The rushed closure of several storylines and the lack of answers to certain questions left the impression that The universe of Westeros had been left half-explored.
Since then, HBO has primarily focused on prequels as a way to continue milking the franchise. First came the house of the dragon, focused on the Targaryen dynasty and the Dance of the Dragons, and will soon be joined by The Knight of the Seven KingdomsBased on the stories of Dunk and Egg, these series have shown that interest in Westeros remains very much alive, but They don't satisfy the demand to see what happens after the original ending.
Meanwhile, fans have speculated for years about the possibility of a sequel that corrects or at least qualifies the ending of some key characters. Martin's recent words confirm that this conversation is no longer just a wish of the fandom, but a a path that HBO is actively exploringalthough there are still no official announcements regarding cast, filming, or release dates.
In Europe, and particularly in Spain, where The original series had a remarkable audience And with a significant impact on tourism in locations like Seville, Cáceres, or Girona, any project that continues the story of the main series generates particular interest. For HBO Max in the European market, A sequel can be a major card. to retain subscribers attracted by the original phenomenon.
Arya Stark, the most logical candidate to lead the sequel
If there's one name that comes up every time a direct continuation of Game of Thrones is discussed, it's that of Arya StarkThe last scene of the character, played by Maisie Williams, the sample sailing west of Westeros...bound for unknown lands beyond the Sunset Sea. That final image is, in itself, a perfect hook for a possible adventure spin-off.
Arya not only defeated the Night King during the Battle of Winterfell, but also played a key role in the downfall of Cersei Lannister, cementing her status as one of the most popular figures in the series. Her decision to renouncing power and the political game Exploring the world fits with a more adventurous tone, less focused on palace intrigues and more on travel, new kingdoms and cultures not yet seen on screen.
On more than one occasion, Maisie Williams has left the door open to to reprise the role of Arya...provided the story makes sense and adds something new to the character. For his part, George R.R. Martin fueled the rumors when he recounted on his blog that, during a trip to LondonHe met with the actress for lunch and, in his own words, they discussed matters that he preferred not to detail so as not to "jinx" them.
A hypothetical series centered on Arya would allow HBO expand the map beyond Westeros and Essosopening the door to inventing new regions, cultures, and conflicts, while maintaining a highly recognizable face as the narrative axis. At a production level, it would also facilitate filming in various European countries, something that already worked very well in the original series due to the variety of landscapes and ease of filming.
For the network, moreover, a fictional work of this type would offer an interesting balance: to continue the story after the end of the eighth season without needing to reopen all open fronts at once, focusing on a single character who serves as a bridge between the original series and a new stage of the universe.
Bran, Sansa, and Westeros after the Iron Throne
Beyond Arya, Martin's statements allude to “stories that take place during Bran’s reign”This period offers a range of possibilities to explore how Westeros reorganizes itself after the destruction of the Iron Throne and the final political reconfiguration.
On the one hand, there is Bran Stark as king of the Six KingdomsA very particular monarch who brings an almost mystical dimension to power, with his ability to see the past and part of the future. On the other hand, Sansa Stark as Queen in the Northleading an independent kingdom that has suffered decades of wars, betrayals, and occupations. This dual power structure could lead to diplomatic conflicts, border tensions and new alliances.
Rumors circulating in specialized media suggest the possibility of a series that It would combine Arya's point of view with that of her brothersor even separate projects: one more focused on exploration and the other on managing the new political order in Winterfell and King's Landing.
Another idea that is frequently considered is that of a fictional setting decades after the death of these characterswith a completely new generation grappling with the long-term consequences of the decisions made by Bran, Sansa, Tyrion, and company. That approach would allow maintain references to the original cast without necessarily depending on his return, while exploring social, religious and military changes in a Westeros that is only seemingly at peace.
Whatever formula is chosen, everything points to the sequel (or sequels) that HBO is working on having as its central theme the period after the fall of the Iron Throne, a period practically untouched on screen and with plenty of room to introduce new characters, minor houses and threats that we didn't see in the original series.
From the cancelled Jon Snow project to HBO's new strategy
One of the moves that most surprised fans was the confirmation that HBO had worked on a series centered on Jon SnowThe project, which involved Kit Harington himself, was ultimately scrapped. This sequel would have followed Jon's story after his exile to the Wall and his journey beyond it with the Wildlings.
Despite the cancellation, the statements from the president and CEO of HBO and Max Content, Casey bloysThey make it clear that the idea is not completely buriedBloys has suggested that the concept could be revived later if it fits with the network's creative and scheduling strategy, so the character remains on the table as a possible future lead.
The move fits with a change of focus at HBO: instead of announcing all series in development At the same time, the company now prefers to refine projects, evaluate scripts, and greenlight only those that fit into its long-term plan. In this context, The sequel or sequels derived from Game of Thrones are being handled with special caution.aware that any misstep would be highly visible to the public and critics.
The decision to bet first on prequels like the house of the dragon This has allowed HBO to gauge audience sentiment, assess international performance (including the European market), and adjust the budget and tone of its productions, as well as observe how they evolve. other television adaptations.
The existence of multiple projects running in parallel—some progressing, others being shelved—is a common dynamic in the industry. What's relevant in this case is that George RR Martin has decided to make public that a sequel is indeed in development., something that until now has been more in the realm of rumor than confirmation.
Other series paving the way: prequels, ships, and dragons
As the sequel takes shape, HBO continues to strengthen the Westeros universe with several productions already confirmed and renewed.The most established one is the house of the dragonwhich has not only had good ratings, but has also already been renewed for a fourth seasonIts third installment is scheduled for release in Summer 2026, resuming the conflict between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower.
In parallel, The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms It arrives to fill another temporary gap. Based on the adventures of Dunk and EggThis series is set around 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones It opts for a slightly lighter tone, with more travel and character development than large-scale wars. HBO has so much faith in this project that it has already renewed it. a second season even before the premiere of the first one, scheduled for January 2026.
These productions are joined by other ongoing developments, such as the series about the Queen NymeriaEntitled 10.000 boatsFor which Ebony Booth She has joined as a screenwriter. This story will delve into Nymeria's legendary journey from Essos to Dorne, one of the most important foundational myths in the history of Westeros.
We are also working on projects such as Aegon's Conquest, focused on the campaign of Aegon I Targaryens to unite the Seven Kingdoms under one banner, and The Sea Serpent, focused on maritime adventures of Corlys VelaryonIn addition, there is a production located in the Yi Ti's empire, which would move the action to eastern regions barely mentioned in the main series.
All this deployment of prequels and complementary series doesn't replace the sequel, but it does prepares the ground so that the public remains connected to the universeThus, when HBO finally announces a project to continue the storyline after season 8, it will do so with an active fandom, familiar with different eras and corners of the world created by Martin.
With George RR Martin's statements on the table, the picture is clear: HBO has several Game of Thrones sequels and prequels in development.And at least one of those series will pick up the story beyond the ending we saw in 2019. Among the strongest contenders is a series focused on Arya Stark and her journey westwithout losing sight of the new political order under the Bran's reign and Sansa's independent NorthMeanwhile, titles like The House of the Dragon, The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, 10.000 Ships, or Aegon's Conquest They keep alive the interest in Westeros in Spain and throughout Europe, waiting for the long-awaited sequel to officially materialize and finally put a face to this new stage of the Game of Thrones universe.
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