George R. R. Martin is a busy guy. In addition to his role as a producer on HBO's Game of Thrones, Martin still has to wrap up the novel series - A Song of Ice and Fire - for which the show is based, pump out more prequel novellas, and he's also got a development deal at HBO.

In a recent interview on the red carpet of Game of Thrones' season 3 premiere, Martin discussed that development deal, what kind of general projects he has in mind, and whether he's discussed adapting his prequel series into a companion show for Game of Thrones.

Here's what Martin had to say IGN, about what kind of series he's interested in pitching to HBO:

"I have some ideas for some pretty cool new series. You know, I can't spill them here on television... But, they'll be dramas. I'm not a comedy guy, so it'll be one hour drama shows. I have an idea for a science fiction show." Martin also mentioned that he had a couple of shows based in history in the chamber, adding: "I know HBO does great historical dramas from various different periods. So we'll see which ones they like and want to develop."

Martin acknowledged, though, that creating a show takes more than just a great idea, noting that he would need to find partners like David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, because he couldn't write on any new projects - what with more than "3,000 pages" owed for the Ice and Fire books and his need to keep that as his "first priority".

On the idea of a Game of Thrones prequel:

Well I have been writing for a number of years, a series of novellas set in the same world, in the world of Westeros about 100 years earlier, about two characters called Dunk and Egg... I've published three of those novellas - The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight - and I have in mind about nine or ten more novellas about the adventures of Dunk and Egg. So, we have been playing with the idea of doing those, you know, as prequels. They would be prequels in a sense they're 100 years earlier, but in the same world. They're somewhat lighter in tone than the main series, a little more adventurous but my fans love them and I love the two characters too, and it all ties into Westeros. So maybe, maybe that will be what we do, we'll see."

When pressed by the reporter about whether the prequel idea was "something that you guys have been talking about in terms of a series?" Martin responded: "Yeah... yeah."

The Hedge Knight HBO
Artwork from the "The Hedge Knight" comic book series

While the idea of fleshing out the history of Westeros and widening the world of Game of Thrones may sound appealing to fans of both the series and the books, some may wonder if there is a danger in imbibing too much mead - which is to say, too much of a good thing might be too much of a good thing.

The story of Game of Thrones is already so vast and intricate - requiring so much of its audience's patience and dedication as the stories slowly make their way toward resolution. Will that audience embrace more of the same from a new show that is only loosely connected to the overall story? Perhaps, but the allure of seeing Martin's flair for the epic play out in a sci-fi series has me far more excited, personally speaking.

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Game of Thrones season 3 premieres on HBO @9:00 PM on Sunday March 31st

Source: IGN

Header Image by Living Rope @DeviantArt; "Hedget Knight" Art by Mike S. Miller