Why HBO Was Initially Skeptical Game of Thrones Could Be A Franchise
HBO was initially skeptical that Gameof Thrones could be a successful franchise. The hugely popular fantasy series first aired in 2011 and steadily rose in ratings to become a bona fide pop culture phenomenon. Based on George R.R. Martin's expansive A Song of Ice and Fire series, the network's adaptation of his complex world became the most Emmy Award-winning drama of all time.
After Game of Thrones ended in 2019, many fans of the show were left wondering what was next, despite the finale's less-than-favorable reviews. The answer was unveiled in October 2019 when the network ordered House of the Dragon, a straight-to-series prequel to Game of Thrones created by Martin and Ryan J. Condal. Based on Martin's 700-page book Fire & Blood, the highly-anticipated spinoff follows the Targaryen Civil War and is set to premiere its first episode on HBO Max in August. In addition to House of the Dragon, HBO reportedly has several other spinoffs in the works, including The Sea Snake, Ten Thousand Ships, and a rumored Jon Snow sequel series, among others.
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While looking back on the original series, one HBO insider revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that the network was initially skeptical of Game of Thrones' franchise potential. Showrunners understood fans' desire for more stories from Martin's universe, but according to HBO Executive Vice President of Drama, Francesca Orsi didn't want «to try and replace Game of Thrones as the most epic show in history.» The insider's full quote can be read below:
“They were understandably very nervous about failing and not living up to the original series. I don’t think there was much confidence internally [that Thrones was
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