Broadway Is Coming: It Sounds Like A Game Of Thrones Prequel Play Will Be Heading To New York, London, And Australia
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THR- Game of Thrones is headed to Broadway. A dramatic stage show spectacular based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world is now in development, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. The play is from producers Simon Painter and Tim Lawson (The Illusionists), in partnership with Kilburn Live, and will have a story by Martin, who is working alongside award-winning playwright Duncan MacMillan (1984) and acclaimed director Dominic Cooke (The Courier). The team’s goal is to debut productions in New York City, London’s West End and in Australia. The first show is expected to launch in 2023.
The production includes a particularly unique story element that should be a huge draw for fans: While many prequel projects have been put into development since Thrones concluded in 2019, this will mark the first to bring back several of the most beloved Game of Thrones characters. The as-yet-untitled play is set during a pivotal moment in Westeros history, The Great Tourney at Harrenhal, a contest that took place just 16 years before the events in Game of Thrones.
“The play will for the first time take audiences deeper behind the scenes of a landmark event that previously was shrouded in mystery,” reads the play’s official description. “Featuring many of the most iconic and well-known characters from the series, the production will boast a story centered around love, vengeance, madness and the dangers of dealing in prophecy, in the process revealing secrets and lies that have only been hinted at until now.”
In Westeros lore, the Great Tourney was held over 10 days and was considered the biggest competition event in Westeros history, with tournaments of jousting, archery and more. No characters have yet been officially confirmed for the play. But according to Martin's previously published books, attendees of the event included a young, shy Ned Stark, his rebellious sister Lyanna, cocky teenage Jaime Lannister, powerful Lord Robert Baratheon, lovestruck Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, dashing Prince Oberyn Martell and noble knight Ser Barristan Selmy, among many others (keep in mind, Martin’s Westeros timeline is different than the HBO series as the show had to age-up several characters in order to hire actors who could work with adult material). Some other characters who were around during that time period and who could likewise, in theory, be included the show include Cersei Lannister, Tywin Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Littlefinger and Varys. Younger characters from the series – such as Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow and Arya Stark – were not yet born. At the conclusion of the event, Prince Rhaegar publicly declared his love for Robert's betrothed, Lyanna Stark – a move which led to Robert's Rebellion and the Targaryens being overthrown.
You know what? I think I am starting to respect everyone associated with Game Of Thrones. Despite living in the most divisive times of our lives, the one thing that everyone can seem to agree upon is that the last season of Thrones was absolute trash and ruined the legacy of what could've been known as the greatest TV show of all-time. We have been stuck inside for more than a year looking for any sort of content to pass the time and I haven't heard one person say they want to go back to Westeros.
However, the people in charge of all things Thrones are going full steam ahead and acting like they stuck the landing the same way Marvel did with Endgame. HBO has a gaggle of spinoffs in the works, they locked up a 72-year-old George RR Martin for tens of millions of dollars like he's a franchise player in his prime, and now they are going to motherfucking Broadway. I haven't seen this much confidence since that know nothing bastard Jon Snow led thousands of men to slaughter against Ramsay Bolton before Sansa and the Knights of the Vail stepped in to save the day.
But you wanna know the fucked up thing about all of this is? If my wife wanted to spend a night out south of The Wall in a post-COVID world to escape the kids and feel cultured with her uncultured wildling husband for a few hours by taking in a show on Broadway, I would rather watch a play about the events that spawned six of the greatest seasons in television history (and one of the worst) over pretty much any other show. I mean it wouldn't be my first, second, or even 100th choice of things to do because I've never been a play guy due to the seats in theaters seldom being comfy for Hodor-sized lads like myself. But as long as the names Benioff or Weiss don't appear anywhere in the Playbill, I would have no problem spending hundreds of dollars for entertainment like this.