"A Song of Ice and Fire" Coming to HBO

[Klade]

This is not video game news but enough folks here like George R.R. Martin novels that I believe this is front-page worthy.

It seems that the book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin has been optioned by David Benioff (Screenplay of Troy) and D.B. Weiss (Halo Book Author). The books will be produced as a television series on HBO with each season equating to one book. Here is your snippet from Variety.com (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117957532.html?categoryid=14&cs=1):

"Fire" is the first TV project for Benioff ("Troy") and Weiss ("Halo") and will shoot in Europe or New Zealand. Benioff and Weiss will write every episode of each season together save one, which the author (a former TV writer) will script.

The series will begin with the 1996 first book, "A Game of Thrones," and the intention is for each novel (they average 1,000 pages each) to fuel a season's worth of episodes. Martin has nearly finished the fifth installment, but won't complete the seven-book cycle until 2011.

Personally, I am more then a little troubled by the idea that two fellows who have never written a television show before hold in their hands my favorite book series of all time. I mean Troy wasn't even all that good.

[GrinR]

Aside from being shamelessly bloodless, Troy was packed with great stuff. It just didn't hold up without the magic of the Iliad.

(we've been over this, though)

[Hieremias]

Well, A Song of Ice and Fire wasn't even all that good either. ;)

I'm still excited about this though. High budget fantasy epics always get my interest up. And seeing what HBO has done in recent years is quite encouraging.

[Mattism]

My question is will Martin be finished with the books by the time it reaches the final few seasons.

[51|RandoM]

It is a perfect series to translate to TV, imho. While a hell of a lot of things happen in the books, they actually happen in a very short period of time, which will be a good fit when it comes to tv pacing.

The real problem, OTH, will be breaking it up into episodes that can stand on their own without butchering the storyline to do so.

My only real concern is that this might happen before the series of books is complete, and ultimately have a negative effect on the last book or books. Nothing should happen/not happen in those books solely in light of the TV series.

[Soap]

My question is will Martin be finished with the books by the time it reaches the final few seasons.

The Show will probably be cancelled before Martin finishes the series. It took him nine years to write out those epic books. Hell, you could do a spinoff of the series just by focusing on the Wall.

[DaXIthR]

I loathed Troy. It was an abomination on the spirit of Homer's work.

That said, Benioff is talented. His original screenplay for 25th Hour shows that off better. And his collection of short stories, The Nines Rolled Over, is better proof.

I give all HBO original series the benefit of the doubt. Benioff is the only contributor to this project I'm familiar with, so consider my interest piqued.

[Kelegacy]

Holy crap. My most anticipated show of the season.

If it sucks, I'll slit someone's wrists.

[flinxz]

People keep telling me to read these books. Looks like now, I will not have to. :rolleyes:

[Kelegacy]

People keep telling me to read these books. Looks like now, I will not have to. :rolleyes:
I'd recommend reading them before the show starts. The books are phenomenal. Can't vouch for the 4th book, but the first 3 were probably the best I've ever read in the genre, and I've read a TON.

[Klade]

I have very low expectations for this show and that bothers me quite a bit. I mean has there EVER been a good book to tv conversion before? That said HBO is the only station that could possibly get this right but the forces working against this series are astronomical.

As a side note Neal Stephen is making a mini-series on the Sci-Fi Channel of "The Diamond Age." So all my favorite book authors are in on it these days. Oh and I also have low expectations for that one as well.

[Dakar]

I was just saying that last night, with The Sopranos, Rome and Deadwood all either over, or finishing up before 2007 ends. As well as The Wire only doing one more season, HBO was going to be screwed for real quality shows. John from Cincinatti sounds stupid and the Preacher show is done by a bunch of jackasses.

I also was just saying the ASOIAF would make a great TV show/miniseries/movie.

This is all my doing.

I have a massive erection right now, this is the best news ever!!!!!!!!

[Greymane]

This might actually work out very well - I can see the books working in a serialized format for TV, with a little careful thought. I'll look forward to this.

[Spigot]

Very cool. I hope it doesn't suck horribly as I love those books.

That said, I REALLY need to read A Feast For Crows. I keep starting it, getting about 2-3 chapters in and something shiny distracts me. Grr...

Speaking of books as TV shows, did anyone else notice that they've finally done the Dresden Files (http://www.spacecast.com/shows_3201.aspx) as a show? I'd heard rumours about a TV adaptation of this series (which is by far my favourite contemporary fantasy series) and I really hope it doesn't suck. It's airing in Canada this weekend but I'm curious as to whether it has been shown in the US yet.

[Sandman]

Most book to film versions that work are mini-series. To see that they are making this a full fledged series makes me all tingly inside.

[krackmonkey]

This is both exciting and upsetting. HBO has the ability to do this project more justice than any other network, but they also have a track record of fucking great shows in the ass, al la Deadwood.

[rhagen]

I just recently finished "A Game of Thrones" and am eagerly awaiting "A Clash of Kings" to ship to me. I was quite surprised to read this piece of news just as I finished the first book. Hopefully I'll have enough time to read all the books that are out before the series starts up.

A TV series with a huge cast of main characters seems to be the best way to handle this story. Although, I think it'll be a little strange to watch actual children play the roles of Robb, Jon, Arya, Sansa, Bran, and Daenerys simply because in my mind I had trouble associating such mature people with children. Personally, I wouldn't have a problem if they aged everyone (besides Rickon) a few years to have more mature actors, and have the public take them more seriously.

[Heretic Machine]

Well this is sexy... But I have no idea how you could ever do justice to the books in a format like this. The vast cast of characters is a big part of what is great about the books, and not only would that be horribly expensive, it would also make it extremely difficult to follow for most people. Still, I'll watch it!

[WastelandDan]

the fact that it's being produced by HBO is the only thing about this that gives me any hope. This is the sort of project that the Sci-fi channel would show interest in and then utterly ruin, but HBO would show interest in and maybe do a great job. Wish the two lead guys had a better pedigree though.

[Gamefreaks]

and will shoot in Europe or New Zealand

Yes!

Thankyou LOTR and Narnia :P

[fatefodder]

The Song of Ice and Fire series is great because its political and macro-level storytelling is felt within the micro-level stuff within each character's perspective. I don't think that television is the right medium for this series--the risk of bastardization is very high. For that matter, I wonder if any other medium would be right for this series.

It's too bad that the prospect of revenue and exposure have lead this beloved series here, especially after the fourth book (which I personally found very disappointing). My hopes of the Song of Ice and Fire regaining its prior glory have dropped tremendously with this news.

Hope is faint. HBO's involvement does give me some little...

But then, I'm in the minority that found the Lord of the Rings and Narnia films to be jokes without imagination, so what do I know.

[Captain Awesome]

While Troy was a total piece of crap. I'm willing to give this guy a chance in not ruining a great series here.

[BlackPete]

This is both exciting and upsetting. HBO has the ability to do this project more justice than any other network, but they also have a track record of fucking great shows in the ass, al la Deadwood.

Uh... without giving anything away, could you elaborate a bit more on this?

I love Deadwood and have the Seasons 1 and 2 sets on DVD. However, I haven't seen Season 3. Please say it didn't go down into the shitter!

I definitely think HBO is one of the only stations (aside from Showcase) that has the ability to bring across the grittiness of the story onto the TV screen. Every other channel would dumb it down into mere pap smear, and would be about as pretty to watch.

[Captain Awesome]

I love Deadwood and have the Seasons 1 and 2 sets on DVD. However, I haven't seen Season 3. Please say it didn't go down into the shitter!

It didn't, S3 is great. I just need the two full-length Deadwood films to close it, is all.

[Disgustipated]

What stands out to me is that D.B. Weiss did the Halo 1 book adaption... and it blew. Not nearly as good as Eric Nylund's books.

[NoName]

OMG don't suck, OMG don't suck, OMG don't suck. That is all. (This is one of my favorite series of all time, ignoring the fourth book).

[ProfPuppet]

I'm intrigued, but very wary.

[crashedout]

A fantasy series for HBO? Interesting gamble or will they cut all the Others/Magic elements out? At least if its on HBO they can capture the violence and sex that the book offers. Lots of risk in this venture but lots to gain as well.

[Telefrog]

Hell, yes! This is awesome news. HBO is a much better choice than the Sci-Fi channel to do this series. They can do great sex a la Rome, intrigue a la Sopranos, family issues a la Big Love, fantasy a la Carnival, and violence a la Deadwood. (Or did I just mix all those up?) My only trepidation is that HBO will drop this at the end of season 2 unresolved and unloved.

[Gnomesbane]

A Song of Ice and Fire is the best fantasy series I've ever read so, of course, I hope this series turns out well. However, my gut tells me it's a let-down in the making. PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG HBO!

[Food Nipple]

Uh... without giving anything away, could you elaborate a bit more on this?

I love Deadwood and have the Seasons 1 and 2 sets on DVD. However, I haven't seen Season 3. Please say it didn't go down into the shitter!

Season 3 is equally great. The show was originally conceived as a 4 season show and got cancelled without warning at the end of season 3.

[ezzkmo]

If it's as good as some of the other hit HBO shows, it's gonna be kick ass.

[BlackPete]

Season 3 is equally great. The show was originally conceived as a 4 season show and got cancelled without warning at the end of season 3.

Well crap, I didn't know that. That really sucks to hear :( :( :(

In that case, I doubt HBO will do ASOIAF justice as it's going to need 7 seasons to tell the whole story.

[GrinR]

HBO does violence more justice than sex, IMO. Rome stands out in that respect, considering just how much fucking went on. Those guys fucked anything they didn't kill, and some things they did. The only thing I can remember was the Legionaire taking a break to rape that shepard girl against a tree, like it was a smoke-break. The way she acted, it was obvious that happened all the time. La dee dah, oh the good old days...

[Lexicon]

What stands out to me is that D.B. Weiss did the Halo 1 book adaption... and it blew. Not nearly as good as Eric Nylund's books.

My thoughts exactly.

[Captain Awesome]

Well crap, I didn't know that. That really sucks to hear :( :( :(

This is why HBO was able to work a deal out with the creators of Deadwood to create 2 HBO films, to finish the series off.

[51|RandoM]

and will shoot in Europe or New Zealand

Yes!

Thankyou LOTR and Narnia :P

No, it is thank you Xena...

[thecrazyd]

No, it is thank you Zena...
"Xena" .

[GWhite]

Honestly I am much more interested in the upcoming release of Diamond Age on Sci-Fi. Mostly due to the fact that Stephenson will be writing the screen-play. Not sure how it will work out but sounds interesting.
Anyone think I should submit it for the front page?

[BlackPete]

This is why HBO was able to work a deal out with the creators of Deadwood to create 2 HBO films, to finish the series off.

That's something at least -- I applaud them for not completely ditching it outright unlike some TV channels...

We need closure, dammit! :D

[Captain Awesome]

That's something at least -- I applaud them for not completely ditching it outright unlike some TV channels...

We need closure, dammit! :D


This is true and I wish the fuckers at HBO had done the same for Carnivale

:'(

[Spigot]

Honestly I am much more interested in the upcoming release of Diamond Age on Sci-Fi. Mostly due to the fact that Stephenson will be writing the screen-play. Not sure how it will work out but sounds interesting.
Anyone think I should submit it for the front page?
I want a Snow Crash adaptation... or Zodiac. That book was nuts.

[Zacharai]

A Snow Crash adaptation would rock, but how do you teach the audience about the nam-shub and all that ancient Egyptian shit without boring the crowd to tears?

To the matter at hand, ASOIAF better run many seasons, because I had to read everything at least three times to figure out who Jon's parents really are, who was the Knight of the Laughing Tree (the tournament where Jaime won his white cloak), and all sorts of prophecies that have been written and even come about.

The series is not for the faint-hearted, but it is completely worth it.

[GWhite]

I want a Snow Crash adaptation... or Zodiac. That book was nuts.

Yes Zodiac would be both a kicking action flick and topical. Call me crazy but that was my favorite Stephenson book. I was in the Coast Guard though and anything of that nature gains a couple of extra points in my eyes.

[tombofsoldier]

I would supply that this is awesome.

[Deadend]

I think they can get this done with the right timing...

Season 1 would be Fall '09 probably.

Maybe Fall '08 at earliest.

[Sandman]

I think they can get this done with the right timing...

Season 1 would be Fall '09 probably.

Maybe Fall '08 at earliest.

If they started this year doing a season a year he would be done with the series by season 5.

[FireFro]

I know that I will love this show because it's George R.R. Martin and it's HBO...

you can't tell me that he is not going to be helping out with this adaptation

I have faith in HBO and I have faith in George

What I don't have faith in is the public giving HBO the ratings they need to keep this thing going...it's gonna be pricey.

[TrackZero]

Well, A Song of Ice and Fire wasn't even all that good either. ;)

Blasphemy! ;P

[TrackZero]

As a side note Neal Stephen is making a mini-series on the Sci-Fi Channel of "The Diamond Age." So all my favorite book authors are in on it these days. Oh and I also have low expectations for that one as well.

Wait, wha? Really?! Sweet, The Diamond Age was my fav of Stephenson's works (though I know not everyone elses).

[Sandman]

How about The Dresden Files series which starts on Sci-Fi Jan 21st....that should be good.

[mister_slim]

As a side note Neal Stephen is making a mini-series on the Sci-Fi Channel of "The Diamond Age." So all my favorite book authors are in on it these days. Oh and I also have low expectations for that one as well.
That's what I'm excited about. I wonder how they'll tweak the ending?

Also, having George Clooney involved, even as a producer, is a good sign in my book.

[crashedout]

HBO does not have to do one season a year like a network. It can take as long as they want it to.

[Dr.Finger]

Remember HBO is doing Preacher as a series too. I may actually have to get HBO now.

[roboninja]

Wow, fantastic news to me. Looking forward to it greatly.
As for the Deadwood fiasco, you can spread the blame around, it was not just HBO. The creator (David Milch) is notoriously hard to work with, and a real control freak and rumoured drug addict. I love the show, so I do not hold it against him, but understand HBO may have had some vaild points in their disagreements.
And to the guy that did not like LoTR? I doubt you will like any other epic fantasy movie ever made. The errors in moviemaking in that series were so small, if you cannot get over them and just enjoy the spectacle of those movies, I have little hope of you doing so for future movies.

[KSmitty]

Okay so I read this post and all that kept running through my head is a Dark Tower Series on HBO. I don't know I must have Roland on the mind or something. I think if anyone could make a long running fantasy series work it would be HBO or Sci Fi. HBO just has deeper pockets than the Sci Fi network, but HBO seems quicker to give up on a show/series than Sci Fi. (I'm looking at you Carnivale)

-K

[Cha-Ka]

This is true and I wish the fuckers at HBO had done the same for Carnivale

:'(

What he said. Worst cancellation EVAR.

I'm hopeful and optimistic that they will do a decent-or-better job on Fire & Ice, but that they will cancel it in a heartbeat if it doesn't get a large enough audience or if they feel one of their directors is 'hard to work with'. HBO is a business first and formost; all the patronage of the arts crap is just a means to that end.

[Babboo]

The article said they are doing one book per season, so seven seasons total. That seems like a good balance to flesh out the complexity of the plot and characters...just barely. :)

[PathMaster]

I am need to start reading this series again. I too have become stuck, somewhere in the third book. Have to return to them. Reading Salvatore's books on Drizzt at the moment.

[shunoshi]

The article said they are doing one book per season, so seven seasons total. That seems like a good balance to flesh out the complexity of the plot and characters...just barely. :)

If so, I hope they're planning on doing more than 12 episodes per season. I have a hard time imagining the depth of one of those books being done well within 12 hours. Even 4 more hours would help.

Regardless, I hope this series turns out. I'm at the end of the 2nd book right now and it's undoubtedly the best fantasy series I've ever read so far.

[Bone]

I'm still trying to figure out how they would treat the chapters. Martin is a real craftsman- even though the events of a few chapters may happen before or after each other, the order he presents them to the reader is sometimes extremely important. I would almost like to see each episode be two chapters... "Bran and Tyrion" "Arya and Cersei", etc. and just keep the structure as-is.

I've just become a fan of this series, and am halfway through book 3 after less than a month of reading. I don't think I've slept much... the pages keep turning themselves.

[BlackPete]

I've just become a fan of this series, and am halfway through book 3 after less than a month of reading. I don't think I've slept much... the pages keep turning themselves.

You should check out his last series then -- Wild Cards. That was what nailed GRRM's position as "Favarite riter evar!!11!" in my book. If you can find it... it's unfortunately out of print.

However, he's reviving that series with new books, so there's always hope :D

If there's ever a HBO series of Wild Cards.... that would be all levels of pure awesome :eek:

[balamoor]

I don't see how this is going to play to T.V. considering how morbidly obsessed Martin is with Incest, I mean yes this is the 21st century and all but, that’s one taboo, that isn’t bandied about much.

[BlackPete]

I don't see how this is going to play to T.V. considering how morbidly obsessed Martin is with Incest, I mean yes this is the 21st century and all but, that’s one taboo, that isn’t bandied about much.

That's where HBO comes in. They show that kind of stuff, no problem.

[balamoor]

That's where HBO comes in. They show that kind of stuff, no problem.



Been a subscriber to HBO since 1980, I have yet to see one Sister Fucker. Sure Samuel L talks about a lot of Mutha Fuckers, but you don't actually see them.

[Spigot]

You should check out his last series then -- Wild Cards. That was what nailed GRRM's position as "Favarite riter evar!!11!" in my book. If you can find it... it's unfortunately out of print.
Well, you can get anthologies of Wild Cards. It's pretty cool stuff, but kind of twisted.

[Bone]

Been a subscriber to HBO since 1980, I have yet to see one Sister Fucker. Sure Samuel L talks about a lot of Mutha Fuckers, but you don't actually see them.
Have you ever watched Six Feet Under? With Brenda and her brother, it's not explicit but is heavily implied that they were once uncomfortably close. Judging by all the other stuff they've covered in that show, there's not much in Ice and Fire that can't be done on HBO.

Besides, in the context of medieval times and the pure bloodlines of royalty, talking about incest is as historically accurate as putting someone's head on a spike outside the castle. Go read about the Wars of the Roses (do Lancaster and York sound a little like Lannister and Stark to any of you?) and you'll see what I mean.

[BlackPete]

Been a subscriber to HBO since 1980, I have yet to see one Sister Fucker. Sure Samuel L talks about a lot of Mutha Fuckers, but you don't actually see them.

Looking at Deadwood, it's not too much of a stretch to see incest appearing in an HBO show eventually. I mean, Deadwod is pretty rough (beating children to death, giving soliquys while receiving a blowjob, etc.) so I can't see HBO shying away from taboo subjects as long as it fits the story.

Incest is a MAJOR theme in Ice and Fire, so I can't see how HBO will muzzle it.