Even though Game of Thrones is nearing its conclusion, at least three spinoffs are currently in development, according to George R.R. Martin. Game of Thrones is currently halfway through its eighth and final season. The series, based off of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels, has been HBO's flagship show for the past eight years and garnered critical acclaim for its blending of political intrigue with fantasy elements.
With Game of Thrones set to wrap on May 19, there has been a greater focus on what will follow it. One spinoff series, The Long Night will serve as a distant prequel, following the history of Martin's fictional continent of Westeros thousands of years before there even was an Iron Throne. Despite the initial announcement that three to five Game of Thrones spinoffs were in consideration, The Long Night is the only Game of Thrones spinoff to move ahead, revealing story details, casting, and when filming would begin. The other spinoffs were rumored to still be in various stages of development, but it was recently revealed that at least Bryan Cogman's spinoff is no longer happening.
Now, Martin has posted a response to those rumors on his blog. Speaking about the status of HBO's potential Game of Thrones spinoffs, Martin writes:
Oh, and speaking of television, don’t believe everything you read. Internet reports are notoriously unreliable. We have had five different GAME OF THRONES successor shows in development (I mislike the term “spinoffs”) at HBO, and three of them are still moving forward nicely. The one I am not supposed to call THE LONG NIGHT will be shooting later this year, and two other shows remain in the script stage, but are edging closer. What are they about? I cannot say. But maybe some of you should pick up a copy of FIRE & BLOOD and come up with your own theories.
Martin has confirmed that he and HBO are still actively developing two, currently unnamed spinoff shows to Game of Thrones in addition to The Long Night. In fact, Martin says all three projects are "moving forward nicely," so perhaps we'll learn more about them before the year is out. He doesn't say anything specifically about the spinoffs, but he does hint that his latest book, Fire & Blood, a book about the history of House Targaryen, may contain some clues.
The news that HBO will strive for multiple Game of Thrones spinoffs comes at a time when there is great speculation over what the network will do once its flagship series ends. HBO still does not have a show to serve as Game of Thrones's clear replacement, at least not yet. It does have several high profile shows based off of recognizable properties coming, such as Watchmen and His Dark Materials, but there is no guarantee those shows will have the same broad appeal that Game of Thrones achieved.
Though Martin has not been as actively involved in Game of Thrones in recent seasons as he was when the show first began, his work still sets the foundation for HBO's adaptations. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels have created a rich and winding world history with plenty of points that could serve as material for Game of Thrones spinoffs. With side stories and history books for the fictional setting, HBO could turn their flagship series into a flagship franchise. Given Game of Thrones's worldwide reach and social influence, there's not much reason for the network to pull back now.
Source: George R.R. Martin