HBO has given a pilot order to the fantasy project "Game of Thrones."
The program is based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling "A Song of Fire & Ice" series of novels. The "Game of Thrones" title is from the first novel.
If it gets an episodic order, "Thrones" would represent the rarest of TV genres: a full-fledged fantasy series.
Although broadcasters have embraced sci-fi-tinged shows in recent years following the success of ABC's "Lost" and NBC's "Heroes," and supernatural themes have been given a spin by the CW's "Supernatural" and HBO's own "True Blood," high fantasy is nearly nonexistent in primetime TV annals -- and "Thrones" is an unabashed member of the genre. The books have swords, dragons, magic, the works.
"Fantasy is the most successful genre in terms of feature films given the incredible popularity of the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Harry Potter' movies," said David Benioff, one of the executive producers.
"High fantasy has never been done on TV before, and if anybody can do it, it's HBO. They've taken tired genres and reinvented them -- mobsters in 'The Sopranos' and Westerns with 'Deadwood,'" said Benioff, whose writing credits include "Troy" and "The Kite Runner."
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Comments (3)
Oh thats just *great*. Wond... (Below threshold)1. Posted by JamesT![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpop.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| November 13, 2008 1:33 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Oh thats just *great*. Wonderful. Like Martin needs another excuse to delay the next volume in the series. Just frickin' ducky. Turning into the "Wheel of Time" glacier....
1. Posted by JamesT![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpop.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| November 13, 2008 1:33 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 13, 2008 13:33
2. Posted by Mark | November 13, 2008 5:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
There is in fact, already a new syndicated fantasy series called, "Legend of the Seeker" which began on November 1. It is based on a pretty good 11 book series by Terry Goodkind.
2. Posted by Mark | November 13, 2008 5:07 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 13, 2008 17:07
3. Posted by James H | November 13, 2008 7:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I saw the "Legend of the Seeker" pilot. Absolutely awful. Zedd came across as a low-rent Gandalf.
I'd have high hopes for a "Thrones" series, however.
3. Posted by James H | November 13, 2008 7:25 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 13, 2008 19:25