Summary

• HBO is expanding the Game of Thrones universe with at least 6 new spinoff shows, including House of the Dragon.
• These new shows will delve deeper into the rich world created by George R.R. Martin, offering new stories and perspectives.
• With solid properties like Game of Thrones, HBO aims to keep its audience engaged in the midst of the streaming wars.

Game of Thrones may have ended in 2019, but there is more of Westeros to explore as HBO has at least six new spinoff shows in development, including the already successful House of the Dragon. Based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series, Game of Thrones became a cultural phenomenon throughout its eight-season run. Despite the Game of Thrones ending proving extremely divisive, the fictional world nonetheless remains one filled with potential for the small screen. It's no surprise there is a push for new Game of Thrones shows to expand the franchise.

As the streaming wars continue, having reliable properties to build on becomes increasingly essential. That's why Disney+ has a wealth of Marvel and Star Wars shows planned, and while Game of Thrones' popularity isn't quite on that level, it's one of Warner Bros.'s most prominent titles. It isn't just from a business perspective that this makes sense, though. There are countless stories to be told from the universe Martin has created, thanks to his rich, detailed world-building. House of the Dragon is way earlier on the timeline, and future spinoffs will take viewers even deeper into Westerosi history and beyond.

House Of The Dragon Season 2

HBO's First Critically Acclaimed Game Of Thrones Prequel Returns For Season 2

After the disappointing Game of Thrones season 8 took the series off the map for a few years, HBO bringing its popularity back was a tall order. House of the Dragon was the perfect choice to deliver a story in George R.R. Martin's universe that had similarities to the plot format of Game of Thrones while also exploring something new. After the Emmy-nominated first season's success, HBO has already green-lit two more spinoffs, demonstrating how impactful House of the Dragon has been.

House of the Dragon season 1 is available to stream on Max.

House of the Dragon season 2's release is planned for Summer 2024, with a June 16 premiere. While the first season saw primarily build-up, season 2 will see Westeros engulfed in a vicious Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. The Game of Thrones prequel is excellent television, and the fact that the full story is already mapped out indicates that it can avoid the same perils as the original series. There's no planned season count in mind, though George R.R. Martin has estimated at least four to cover the material provided by his book, Fire & Blood.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Prequel Is The Next Game Of Thrones Spinoff

Another Game of Thrones prequel show to be confirmed is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, based on the Tales of Dunk and Egg stories. While fans might have expected this new GoT show to retain the title, George R.R. Martin suggested the title change was necessary for fans unfamiliar with the Dunk and Egg novellas. There are three published Dunk & Egg stories so far: The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight. The prequel series is expected to premiere on HBO in late 2025.

Set around 90 years before Game of Thrones, the stories are a little lighter and less epic than the main series, but no less interesting.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight follows Dunk, a hedge knight who eventually becomes Ser Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Egg is Dunk's squire, and will one day rule Westeros as King Aegon V Targaryen. Set around 90 years before Game of Thrones, the stories are a little lighter and less epic than the main series, but no less interesting. Martin has plans to publish anywhere from six to 12 novellas, so the series could run for a long time. Recently, actors Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell were cast as Dunk and Egg.

Aegon's Conquest (Movie & Show)

One Of The Most Pivotal Eras In Game of Thrones' History Has A Confirmed TV Adaptation

The name "Aegon" carries a lot of weight through multiple eras of Game of Thrones due to the legacy of Aegon the Conqueror, the Targaryen who arrived from Valyria and conquered Westeros on dragonback. Since spinoffs became a possibility, this conquest 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones has been a commonly requested arc. Aegon's Conquest is confirmed to be in development by HBO, with The Batman writer Mattson Tomlin attached to develop.

This isn't the first time an Aegon's Conquest project is reportedly in development. In April 2023, a different iteration was in the works, with the possibility of a film adaptation. While this is one of the stories in George R.R. Martin's universe where a film could work, HBO is moving forward with a TV series instead. There's no casting or release schedule planned for the series, though the source material is also contained in Fire & Blood. House of the Dragon depicts a downfall for the Targaryen family, while Aegon's Conquest will show their violent rise to power.

The Golden Empire

An Animated Game Of Thrones Spinoff Set In A Far Away Part Of Essos

An adult animated Game of Thrones spinoff has been in early development since January 2021. Animated "Histories & Lore" DVD and Blu-ray extras detail aspects of the history of Westeros, so Game of Thrones already has some basis for the shift and medium, although this show would obviously have far greater scope. The show's title refers to the Golden Empire of Yi Ti, located in the far east of Essos, which has minimal source material to explore aside from The World of Ice & Fire book.

The Golden Empire would explore a society unlike what's been seen in Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon.

The Golden Empire spinoff hasn't had many updates since its original announcement, with much of the work kept secret. Martin has praised concept art he's seen for the show and is likely involved behind the scenes in developing a story that should be one of the most unique in his universe. The Golden Empire would explore a society unlike what's been seen in Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, though it hasn't been officially green-lit like Aegon's Conquest or A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

The Sea Snake

An Animated Corlys Velaryon Prequel Has Been In Development

Another new Game of Thrones animated show in development, The Sea Snake, is effectively a possible spinoff of a spinoff. The show will center around Corlys Velaryon, aka the Sea Snake, who is portrayed by Steve Toussaint in House of the Dragon, developing a series built around his Great Voyages. The Sea Snake traversed the oceans farther than most dared, visiting not just the areas of Essos that Game of Thrones viewers are familiar with but more unknown regions such as Yi Ti, accumulating incredible wealth along the way. Bryan Heller, who co-created HBO's Rome, is on the creative team.

Lord Corlys Velaryon plays an integral part in House of the Dragon, and his loyalties will be tested as the Dance of the Dragons moves forward. As House of the Dragon rolls into season 2, interest in Corlys Velaryon and his past will only grow as the previously unchronicled House Velaryon starts to garner a lot of attention. The Sea Snake spinoff was originally planned to be live-action, though George R.R. Martin shared on his blog that if the show is greenlit, it will be animated for budget constraints.

10,000 Ships

A Prequel Pre-Dating The Targaryen Conquest Of Westeros Has Been In Development

Another Game of Thrones prequel show in development is the story of Princess Nymeria of the Rhoyne. The Rhoynar was destroyed by the Valyrian Freehold some 1,000 years before the events of Game of Thrones, leading Nymeria to lead her people to safety and freedom. It's said that she commanded 10,000 ships to sail down the river Rhoyne and away from Essos, and while the number may have been inflated, it was clearly an incredible amount and journey nonetheless.

HBO could be securing the safer, Targaryen-centric spinoffs first before trying to expand to deeper pockets of Martin's lore.

Nymeria's story is among the most fabled in Westeros history and is connected to Game of Thrones by Arya's direwolf, who was named after the princess. Amanda Segel (Person of Interest) will write 10,000 Ships, but no other creative team has been confirmed. Like The Sea Snake and The Golden Empire, the prequel series has been in early development for years. HBO could be securing the safer, Targaryen-centric spinoffs first before trying to expand to deeper pockets of Martin's lore.

Which Game Of Thrones Spinoffs Are No Longer Happening

Unfortunately, not every announced Game of Thrones series has progressed forward. Ideas come and go all the time in Hollywood, and HBO is particularly selective about its material. From what's been revealed to the public, three spinoff shows were considered for a time before being shelved.

The Jon Snow Spinoff Is No Longer In Development At HBO

In June 2022, HBO announced a new Game of Thrones show that centers around Kit Harington's Jon Snow, following the ending of Game of Thrones and his necessary betrayal and murder of Daenerys and resulting banishment beyond the Wall. However, the series was recently shelved by HBO in April 2024, with Harington announcing that they couldn't agree on a narrative for the series. Exploring the post-Game of Thrones timeline is difficult to navigate, given the controversy surrounding the show's ending.

Why Bloodmoon Was Canceled Despite Filming A Pilot

In the summer of 2018, HBO announced that they were working on a new Game of Thrones show set 8,000 years before the events of its predecessor. The project, known as Bloodmoon, was supposed to be guided by writer Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass) and starred Naomi Watts in the main role. The series was supposed the chronicle The Long Night and introduce the White Walkers in their earliest stages. Then, the show was abruptly taken off of HBO's roster after filming an expensive pilot. The network was concerned about repeating the Game of Thrones mistake by immediately embracing another incomplete narrative.

Game Of Thrones' Flea Bottom Spinoff Is No Longer Happening

King's Landing's Red Keep was often a key focal point of the show, but another area of it was supposed to take center stage in a Game of Thrones spinoff based in Flea Bottom, a slum that plays home to most of the city's brothels and less-than-savory drinking establishments. It was known for both its poverty and crime but is also where several key Game of Thrones characters originated, including Davos Seaworth and Gendry. It's unclear exactly what story would've been told in Flea Bottom, but the series has since been canceled without any details revealed.