George R.R. Martin Gives Update On 'Game Of Thrones' Spinoff 'Nine Voyages'
The "Game of Thrones" spinoff "Nine Voyages" is pivoting to animation.
George R.R. Martin made the revelation about his Sea Snake series in a New Year's Eve blog post on his website, in which he gave fans an update on his animated projects that will be set in the world of "A Song of Ice and Fire."
The "Game of Thrones" creator expressed his support for the decision to transition "Nine Voyages" to animation, citing budgetary constraints that would have made a live-action version financially challenging.
"Budgetary constraints would likely have made a live-action version prohibitively expensive, what with half the show taking place at sea, and the necessity of creating a different port every week, from Driftmark to Lys to the Basilisk Isles to Volantis to Qarth to... well, on and on and on. There's a whole world out there. And we have a lot better chance of showing it all with animation. So we now have three animated projects underway," Martin wrote on his website.
The series will delve into the legendary sea voyages of Corlys Velaryon aboard the Sea Snake ship.
The writer disclosed that there were initially four animated series pitches in development with HBO that already had "some great talents attached."
However, two out of the four projects were "shelved," he wrote.
The names and plots for the two remaining original animated series remain undisclosed.
Martin confirmed that "none" of his animated projects set in the world of "A Song of Ice and Fire" have been greenlit yet but added that he believes they "are getting close to taking the next step with a couple of them."
He also wrote that he remains hopeful the "shelved" projects can be presented in other forms, such as graphic novels.
"Those of you who have read my reports in years past may recall that I prefer to say 'shelved' rather than 'killed,' as nothing is ever dead for good in Hollywood," Martin wrote.
This announcement comes two years after Deadline first reported that HBO was developing "Nine Voyages" and two other "Game of Thrones" spinoff series, "Flea Bottom" and "10,000 Ships."
Last year, Variety also reported that a prequel centered around Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of Westeros was in the works.
Meanwhile, the hit prequel series "House of Dragon" is gearing up for its second season premiere in early summer 2024.
The trailer for the upcoming season teased more dragon warfare as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower's forces engage in epic battles.
The teaser also showcased new characters and heightened tensions.
Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint and Fabien Frankel are set to return for "House of Dragon" Season 2, along with Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Rhys Ifans, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall and Matthew Needham.
Joining them are new cast members Abubakar Salim, Gayle Rankin, Freddie Fox, and Simon Russell Beale.
