ONE Game of Thrones film in early development at Warner Bros., naturally raising questions about what it will be. There are many potential stories from George RR Martin’s world of Ice and Fire, dating back thousands and thousands of years before. Game of Thrones‘timeline. Whether in Westeros, Essos or one of the areas not yet portrayed on screen, the possibilities, in theory, are almost endless.
In practice, however, the story is different. A movie not only has to convince people to watch it on HBO, where it’s an established TV franchise, but they also have to pay even more to get a big-screen experience. For this purpose, there are not so many options. In terms of story, I think Aegon’s Conquest could be a great film and perhaps attract audiences. Continuing later Game of Thrones‘The ending would have appeal, although there are risks involved. But one of the best-of-both-worlds options, which would be an almost guaranteed success, is the prequel story that defines Game of Thrones.
A Robert Rebellion film would be a big draw
It would have mass appeal for a Game Of Thrones movie
Robert’s Rebellion is the greatest story, as far as Game of Thrones directly, which we have not yet seen on the screen. Okay, we get a few glimpses through flashbacks or visions, but for the most part it only exists as words spoken or written on the page. And make no mistake, this and the biggest Game of Thrones story, because it defines almost everything we see in that show, from Jon Snow’s parentage and being raised by Ned Stark, to Daenerys Targaryen being in Essos, to the lineage of the Baratheon kings and beyond.
The promise of young Ned, young Jaime Lannister, young Robert Baratheon, the Mad King and others, and how it all actually happened, is a tantalizing tease that reaches the widest audience of anyone with a modicum of interest.
There is no event so crucial to Game of Thronesthis is no longer in Game of Throneslike Robert’s Rebellion. And a film could promote itself as such, not unlike, say, the Star Wars the prequels were the story of Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader. In my opinion, this would create the widest possible audience for a Thrones movie: the promise of young Ned, young Jaime Lannister, young Robert Baratheon, the Mad King and others, and how it all really happened, is a tantalizing tease that reaches the widest audience of anyone with a modicum of interest.
Robert’s Rebellion occurred about 17 years earlier Game of Thronesbased on the show’s timeline, although it’s around 14 in the A Song of Ice and Fire books.
The only thing that could be greater is a direct continuation of the main show; essentially, Game of Thrones Season 9, but make it a movie. However, while this is likely huge, it carries an inherent risk: the reaction to season 8 could risk putting off potential audiencesand at the same time, there would be a chance to further damage the show’s legacy, which has already suffered a blow with its divisive ending. Robert’s Rebellion, in contrast, plays to the safer, more beloved era of Thrones. Aegon’s Conquest could also be a success, but I don’t think it would be as big.
Why George R.R. Martin Didn’t Want an Adaptation of Robert’s Rebellion
The author has his own plans for the story
One potential problem with this is George RR Martin himself. The author is involved, directly or indirectly, with the on-screen franchise, and was previously not interested in adapting Robert’s Rebellion. In 2017, when HBO was beginning to develop Game of Thrones spinoffs, he ruled it out in his It’s not a blog website, writing:
“We’re not doing Robert’s Rebellion any. I know thousands of you want this, I know there’s a petition… but when I finish writing A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, you’ll know all the important things that happened in Robert’s Rebellion. There would be no surprises or revelations in such a show, just the performance of conflicts whose resolutions you already know. That’s not a story I want to tell right now; It would feel too much like a story told twice.”
That’s an understandable point of view, but with a film some type in early development, and The winds of winterWhile a release date is not yet in sight, it may not necessarily be one that still holds true today. It’s certainly not wrong for the story to be told, and there’s a different discussion about whether it’s the right choice for a film, but if I were at WB, I would definitely consider it a very profitable choice.
Could Robert’s Rebellion work as a movie?
It would be a success, but is it the right choice?
While Robert’s Rebellion will certainly be a huge commercial success as a film, there is a question of whether it is viable to do the story as one and whether it is better suited for this medium than a TV show. I think it could work either way – if it were a TV show, I think it would probably be a full 10-episode series that works really well. A movie, on the other hand, would have a few different options.
He would be just about it being possible to make a 3-hour film of Robert’s Rebellion that tells the story in fullgoing from character introductions and the Tournament at Harrenhal, to the scenes of the Sack of King’s Landing and the Tower of Joy (where the Mad King is killed and Jon Snow is born), fighting some battles and other important beats along the way. The problem there, of course, is that it would probably end up feeling a bit rushed.
In fact, two films could be ideal for Robert’s Rebellion, allowing for more character development, spacing out events, and ensuring that all the key moments are visited (perhaps with some new surprises) without dragging things out too much. A trilogy might seem more appealing and typical of a franchise approach and isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but in reality, two might be enough.
This way, there can be two very exciting films that can offer great battles, delve into the political scenario, offer the shock and horror of the Mad King’s actions and flesh out the characters, especially the romance of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.
Again, I still prefer to see Aegon’s Conquest, and two Game of Thrones movies about Robert’s Rebellion may be getting ahead of us. However, it would be a good way to make this work and ensure that bringing Westeros to the big screen is a huge success.