As House of the Dragon season 3 continues, a surprise character is emerging as a new fan favorite.

The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 3, episode 6, so turn back now if you're not up to date!

In the latest episode, Gwayne Hightower reaches Tumbleton after abandoning Criston Cole in the previous installment (with perfect timing, too, considering Criston meets his unceremonious death in the opening minutes of the new episode).

At Tumbleton, Gwayne reunites with his nephew Daeron Targaryen, and it's quickly clear that they have a much closer – and healthier – relationship than Daeron and Ormund Hightower. Plus, Gwayne thwarts an assassination attempt on Daeron (after enduring plenty of insulting comments from Ormund).

"Gwayne has become one of my favorites, I'm so glad he left Cole's side when he did," says one fan on Reddit.

"Him talking in the hallway with Daeron was heartbreaking," says someone else. "For all that people complain about 'filler,' I love this character development."

"Daeron and Gwayne having instant familial chemistry is the mark of really good acting by both of them. They haven't been on screen together yet but the characters have a long history and I definitely felt that in their scene together," is another fan's take.

"Gwayne literally took no shit from Ormund. He wasn't afraid of him or his tantrums, he spoke the truth at his face and really kept his patience with Ormund-the-man-baby," says another fan. "Gwayne has been a treat since the first episode he appeared and I am glad the writing has been consistent about his character."

"Yeah I really disliked him when he first appeared in the show and now he's one of my favorites. A tribute to his actor," is another person's thoughts.

"Yes, he definitely came off as an arrogant ass at first, with the way he spoke down to Criston. You can see how the realities of war really broke down that kind of thinking. In front of dragons, they are all equally and simply men. Great character development," says another person.

"Gwayne is unexpectedly becoming the one person I'm keeping a tight prayer circle for during the Dance alongside Helaena," says another fan.

"Gwayne is probably my favourite character from Team Green. Hoping he survives, however unlikely it seems," agrees someone else.

Gwayne Hightower dies in the fall of King's Landing in the book, which means his future on the show is a complete unknown. Here's hoping he makes it…

"I think they're both parental figures, Gwayne and Ormund, and Gwayne is more brotherly, and Ormund is more domineering, and so we see a different kind of love and a different side of Daeron comes out when he's with Gwayne," Daeron actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth told GamesRadar+ recently.

"Something more transparent, something more true to who he is as a person, and almost this frustration that comes from just this weight that he's been holding of being around Ormund, having to be very calculated about what he says, what he does, when he does it, because he knows that Ormund has this rage that could be unleashed at any moment," he continued. "And Gwayne is someone that he's been able to talk to, but I think the difference being, he's come back war hardened and out the fight, and usually he's his person [Daeron] can confide with.

"And I think just playing those different relationships and being able to explore the different sides of Daeron with Freddie Fox, but then also with James [Norton], has been really fun."

House of the Dragon season 3 continues weekly on HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK, and HBO in the US.

You can keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule, and, for even more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

It might be hard to believe, but House of the Dragon season 3 only has two episodes remaining.

A big focus of the season has been Tumbleton, which is starting to feel like something of a powder keg. Spoilers for episode 6 follow.

Ormund Hightower is undermining Rhaenyra's authority in King's Landing with his attacks on the gold cloaks and his claims that Daeron Targaryen is the new rightful king, while the dragonseeds Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer lurk outside the town – and, in episode 6, assassins even come for Daeron, but are foiled by Gwayne Hightower.

GamesRadar+ caught up with Daeron actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth on Zoom to talk about the show, and we asked what's coming up for Tumbleton as the finale gets closer.

"I think every episode, at least for my character, the stakes are raising tremendously," he says. "We go from, I suppose, being a squirely figure in Ormund's life, and then being posed as a king, and then having a coin with his face made on it, to then an assassination attempt in this episode. And I think if you follow that trajectory, Tumbleton's looking like a very hostile place.

"And so, yeah, I think a lot of Daeron's experience through that episode and the upcoming episodes, without spoiling anything, is just, when's the breaking point? He's held a tremendous amount of tension and tremendous amount of patience with Ormund, and now with a figure like Gwayne around, and with his dragon Tessarion, who he has this deep affection and friendship with, who he hasn't been able to see, who has been in the Sept tied up, and so, when is it too much?

"And I think a decision of who he wants to be, and I guess leading with his moral compass, or not, and which direction to go through, I think are the questions in his head at the end of episode six," Ainsworth shares. "You'll have to wait and see how that unfolds."

House of the Dragon season 3 continues weekly on HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK, and HBO in the US.

You can keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule, and, for even more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

So far in House of the Dragon season 3, young prince Daeron Targaryen has been under the thumb of his guardian Ormund Hightower out in Tumbleton.

But, in the latest episode of the Game of Thrones prequel, the situation gets slightly more complicated. Daeron's uncle Gwayne Hightower comes to Tumbleton after breaking away from Criston Cole, and it's immediately clear that Gwayne is far more of a positive influence on Daeron than the authoritarian Ormund. Spoilers for episode 6 follow.

"So far, any scene with Daeron has had Ormund Hightower within it, which I think says a lot about their relationship, really," Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who plays Daeron, tells GamesRadar+ when we meet over Zoom.

"There's not a lot of space, and, despite Daeron being an isolated character – he was sent away from his family, away from the politics, but also away from his mother, and all that comes with that, for better or for worse – he's also cramped within this position. The image of Tessarion chained up in Tumbleton's Sept feels like a symbol that makes sense for Daeron's internal experience with Ormond.

"And I think they're both parental figures, Gwayne and Ormund, and Gwayne is more brotherly, and Ormund is more domineering, and so we see a different kind of love and a different side of Daeron comes out when he's with Gwayne," Ainsworth continues. "Something more transparent, something more true to who he is as a person, and almost this frustration that comes from just this weight that he's been holding of being around Ormund, having to be very calculated about what he says, what he does, when he does it, because he knows that Ormund has this rage that could be unleashed at any moment. And Gwayne is someone that he's been able to talk to, but I think the difference being, he's come back war hardened and out the fight, and usually he's his person [Daeron] can confide with.

"And I think just playing those different relationships and being able to explore the different sides of Daeron with Freddie Fox, but then also with James [Norton], has been really fun."

Perhaps the most horrifying moment in Daeron and Ormund's relationship so far came when Ormund forced Daeron to execute an innocent man in Tumbleton, down in the secrecy of the Sept.

"It's manipulation at its worst," Ainsworth says of the moment. "And I think there's a certain part of Daeron which is aware of it and has seen it. He is aware of when things are going wrong, we saw that when he sends away the other squire, so he doesn't get hurt by the rage that's about to come out in episode four. I think, as twisted as it seems, it's something [Daeron] feels like he has to do to get out of this situation.

"There's no other option he feels in that moment, but also, there's almost like a pride which Ormund has with him afterwards, which he kind of yearns for as a character," Ainsworth explains. "And it demonstrates how twisted and fractured their relationship is, that Daeron is willing to do what Ormund wants because he doesn't have that loving figure in his life, and so looks for that through Ormund.

"It was really fun to play, but also, I guess, gut-wrenching to then watch back from an outside perspective. But, yeah, it's really lovely to work with people like James Norton because they give you something really specific every single take, and it's different every take, and so you can almost just follow them on the ride and see how the take unfolds," Ainsworth says. "And sometimes it would end in a moment of, almost, love at the end of of that scene, of like a shared affection that [Ormund] was proud of what I had done, and I know what I have done is terrible – and I wouldn't do it – but the pride he feels is shining onto Daeron. So, yeah, it's definitely a turning point. It's when he figures out he's going to be styled as king, which then starts a barrage of new questions of who he is and who he wants to be."

House of the Dragon season 3 continues weekly on HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK, and HBO in the US.

You can keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule, and, for even more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

One of the most exciting upcoming video game movies is The Legend of Zelda, starring House of the Dragon's Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Renegade Nell's Bo Bragason as Zelda.

GamesRadar+ recently caught up with Ainsworth on Zoom to chat about his role as Daeron Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 3 – but, naturally, we had to ask about Ainsworth's trip to Hyrule, too.

"I can't speak too much on the film itself, but I remember vividly when Breath of the Wild came out – and it might show my age – but I remember being quite young at the time when it came out, and so I didn't have a Switch at the time," he admits. "And so, I was watching gamers play it, and watching playthroughs, essentially."

Ainsworth was born in 2008, and Breath of the Wild, possibly the best Zelda game of all time, was released in 2017. Way to make us feel old…

"And then, upon being fortunate enough to play this role, such an iconic character, going back and realizing the 40 years of legacy and history, and the varied tones, the varied stories, the varied renditions and vocal performances of this character as well," he continues. "Yeah, I'm a big fan, and just really excited, because it was an awesome thing to shoot. New Zealand is a wonderful place. But yeah, can't say too much more."

The Legend of Zelda movie arrives on May 7, 2027, while House of the Dragon season 3 continues weekly on HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK, and HBO in the US.

You can keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule, and, for even more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

Good news for Dunk and Egg fans – a fourth novella is in the works, according to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner Ira Parker.

So far, three Dunk and Egg novellas have been published, but Martin has shared outlines for up to 12 novellas with Parker.

When asked by The Hollywood Reporter about HBO's thoughts on his wish to adapt the three existing novellas then break for a few years to let stars Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell get older, Parker said: "I mostly get eye rolls, though not completely. And look, it'll be a function of how, you know, well the show continues to do, or continues not to do. Every season's going to be a little bit different. What people want in their television shows changes all the time."

Then, he revealed a fascinating tidbit: Martin is writing the series again. "But yeah, I'd love to expand it from three seasons to maybe four or five. Book four, which George is working on, takes place in a very cool location. And five is the last story point of Egg as a boy," he shared. "So it's a very natural ending place for us to take a break and come back when Dexter is older. So then we can do Egg the Prince, do some politics, do some fun stuff in Summer Hall and King's Landing, and get a different vibe where they're not on the road all the time.

"So if the show wraps and people are still OK with everything we're doing and there's still an appetite, let the show evolve along with our leads, with myself and with the rest of our creative team as we grow older and the world changes and we want to say different things. I think that would be a lovely way to tell a story about these two guys through the course of their lives," he said.

Martin notoriously has not finished his A Song of Ice and Fire series, with the wait for The Winds of Winter now surpassing the wait for all five published books so far. The Winds of Winter isn't even the final planned book, either: that would be A Dream of Spring.

"I would hate that," Martin has said of the possibility of giving up. "It would feel like a total failure to me. I want to finish."

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 will arrive next year, while House of the Dragon season 3 is currently ongoing.

House of the Dragon season 3 continues weekly on Sky, NOW, and HBO Max in the UK, and HBO in the US.

You can keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule, and, for even more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

House of the Dragon season 3 got off to an explosive start with the Battle of the Gullet and Rhaenyra finally taking King's Landing, but the Game of Thrones spin-off's pace dropped considerably in the aftermath – and episode 5 is concerning fans.

One person took to Reddit to lay out their concerns about how the show is playing out, saying, "I honestly enjoyed the new episode quite a bit, but I'm growing incredibly concerned about the show's pacing moving forward."

Are we 100% sure they know this is an eight-episode season? from r/HouseOfTheDragon

The problem, in their view, is compounded by the shorter season length. "What I just watched didn't feel like the fifth part of an eight part season, or even like the third part of a six part season if you just call the first two the finale of the last season. That felt, to me, like the third episode of a ten episode season. The pace is way too slow for where the story needs to be right now," they say, before noting concerns with how the pacing might affect telling the rest of the story in the confirmed season 4.

"I'm so tired of these short ass seasons," says one person in response, with another saying: "And they take two years between seasons even though they are much shorter. I hate it."

"I don't want the pacing to be faster I want more episodes," says someone else. "I just finished it and I was thinking the same thing. I paused the show to get a refill of my drink and saw I had ten minutes left in the episode and I was just like 'are you f***ing kidding me'. Then I did the math and I was like ok so the next three episodes must be JAM PACKED with action right up until the last second of the season finale otherwise what are we even doing. This is silly as hell. And it's gonna be two years til we get the next season- I'm just so incredibly disappointed. But yes, I agree these episodes are fantastic- just not for an eight episode run"

"I wouldn't be as upset as I have been over the past three nothing burger episodes if we were getting a 15 episode season," says another fan.

"For real. If season 4 has eight episodes that means there are only 11 episodes left. How are they possibly going to wrap it up in 11 episodes?" points out someone else.

The episode mainly seemed to be setting up future problems: the targeting of the gold cloaks, Daeron and Ormund Hightower in Tumbleton, and Criston Cole continuing to march. There was precious little payoff, however.

House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. Keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule.

For even more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

House of the Dragon season 3 continues this week with another episode that teases steadily building tension. While no battles break out in this installment, it looks like a climactic showdown is looming thanks to some seriously ironic foreshadowing.

Below, we've broken down the moment and what it means – but that means there are major spoilers ahead for George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood. Turn back if you don't want the fate of a major character spoiled!

If you're still reading, then you're ready to dive in and find out what the latest episode of House of the Dragon season 3 sets up. For more, check out our House of the Dragon season 3 review.

House of the Dragon season 3, episode 5 foreshadows an major book death

In the episode, Ser Criston Cole walks for miles with the green army and Alicent Hightower's brother, Gwayne Hightower. Towards the end of the episode, Gwayne realizes that Criston is in fact hoping to march to his death.

Criston gives a rousing speech, in which he declares, "I am the realm's greatest warrior, and I will die as such, clear-eyed, unbent, glorious in battle, and not in their service, finally, but in my own." He even hopes songs of his death reach Alicent.

However, George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood reveals a different fate for the Kingsguard knight. He and his host are confronted by the black army, and Criston unsuccessfully tries to negotiate for the lives of his men if he surrenders.

Criston then tries to battle against his three challengers, declaring, "One of me against three of you. Will that be enough to make a fight of it?" But, he doesn't get the epic death he wants. One member of Team Black, Longleaf the Lionslayer, signals archers and three arrows swiftly strike Criston dead.

"I'll have no songs about how brave you died, Kingmaker," says Longleaf. "There's tens o' thousands dead on your account."

So, Criston's grand hopes in this episode all come to nothing, because an anticlimactic death is awaiting him... and no songs will reach Alicent.

House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. Keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule.

For even more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

House of the Dragon season 3 has introduced a stack of new characters, including Ser Gwayne Hightower, and although he may be Team Green, fans think he is secretly a good guy and would have sided with Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Now, Gwayne, played by Freddie Fox, actually made his House of the Dragon debut in season 2 as Alicent's arrogant brother and Otto Hightower's son. But so far in season 3, it seems as though he isn't that bad. A number of times now he has pulled up Ser Criston on his bizarre choices. This change of heart has led many fans to believe that if Gwayne were in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, he would have done the right thing and sided with Ser Duncan in the Trial of the Seven, just like Baelor Targaryen did.

"I would like to think so. Fits his personality," said one fan on Reddit, and another replied, "He would most definitely be taking Dunk's side if he had to choose," highlighting what the knight said to Criston in House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3, after he caught one of the soldiers assaulting a village girl. Gwayne said, "A punishment is due, but also a statement to the men. That we are not beasts, but knights, and soldiers of honor."

However, others seem to think the apple doesn't fall far from the Hightower. "I don't think he will. As honorable as he is, he is a Hightower, and they don't treat commoners as their equals," added another Reddit user.

The Trial of the Seven is the ultimate test of whether the characters are able to stand up for what is right. After finding Aerion Targaryen beating Tanselle, Dunk strikes the prince. As punishment, the knight is challenged to a trial where he and six of his men must fight Aerion and six of his men. However, when Dunk failed to gather enough soldiers, Baelor Targaryen joined his team and made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so.

We will never know what Gwayne would have done in that situation. However, Hightower has plenty of time to prove himself in House of the Dragon season 2, as he continues to fight for a cause and for a team he doesn't seem to believe in.

House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. For exact timings, see our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule, and keep up with all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows on the way.

The latest episode of House of the Dragon season 3 addresses one of George R.R. Martin's complaints about the show.

Spoilers for season 3, episode 4 follow. Turn back now if you're not up to date!

In the episode, Alicent discovers that Helaena is pregnant. This is quite a big problem for both green women, considering they're currently (very well treated) prisoners in the Red Keep, which is now under the control of Rhaenyra and Team Black.

In Martin's Fire and Blood, Helaena has three children – Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and Maelor. Jaehaerys was killed during Blood and Cheese, and Jaehaera is still alive, so it would seem Helaena's pregnancy is introducing Maelor.

Maelor is present during Blood and Cheese in Martin's book, but the show cut him entirely. This was one of Martin's major complaints in his now notorious blog post railing against changes the show made to his source material.

"Will any of that appear on the show? Maybe… but I don't see how," Martin said of Maelor's story in the book, and the butterfly effect of removing him. "The butterflies would seem to prohibit it … From what I know, that seems to be what Ryan [Condal, showrunner] is doing here. It's simplest, yes, and may make sense in terms of budgets and shooting schedules. But simpler is not better … Maelor by himself means little. He is a small child, does not have a line of dialogue, does nothing of consequence but die… but where and when and how, that does matter."

While it's unlikely that Maelor will have much of a storyline, considering he hasn't even been born yet, Helaena's pregnancy does make it seem as if the child will factor into the story in some way. However, Maelor will be a threat to Rhaenyra's reign as a potential rival claimant to the throne, so the new queen might find herself in the middle of another moral quandary – like the question of what to do with young Prince Daeron, who turned out to be a fake anyway.

The show seemed to poke fun at Martin's post with a reference to poisonous butterflies earlier in the season, while another change to the source material might have accidentally erased Daenerys Targaryen from canon.

House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. Keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule.

For even more, check out our House of the Dragon season 3 review or our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

The latest episode of House of the Dragon season 3 is all about Rhaenyra ruling – and it has fans wondering if the show has forgotten about a crucial (and bloody) season 2 plot point.

The season 2 premiere depicted the horrific Blood and Cheese, a moment that saw the young prince Jaehaerys decapitated in a scheme set up by Daemon meant to kill his nemesis Aemond, after Aemond killed Rhaenyra's son Lucerys in the season 1 finale.

"Why T.F. Does No One Acknowledge Jaehaerys?!?!" asks one fan on Reddit. "WTAF is wrong with these writers? THE BLACKS SAWED OFF THE HEAD OF A 6-YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY IN FRONT OF HIS MOTHER AND NO ONE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE IT. I will not be gaslit! Complaining about the loss of her sons in front of the mother and grandmother of the innocent little boy who was decapitated on orders from her prince-consort, just…. Unfathomably shit writing."

In the new episode, Rhaenyra does indeed pointedly reference the death of her sons, Jacaerys and Lucerys, in conversation with Alicent and Helaena. Neither of the green women bring up Jaehaerys.

"Rhaenyra sarcastically going, 'Well I couldn't imagine…' as if Helaena wasn't right there? Like at least your sons died in battle or on assignments, her son was a literal baby in his bed and on top of that Helaena literally had to watch her son be killed," points out one fan.

"It's funny outside of Aegon only Rhaenyra for one episode was mad at Daemon about it and unlike her Helaena and Alicent still do not know the details of how it was an 'accident,'" says another person.

"Memory loss, it's the only way this story makes sense," jokes someone else. "Remember how characters like Ned haunted the narrative for like YEARS? Or Elia and her children? Rhaegar? Lyanna? Remember when death mattered? Not in HOTD. Babies get beheaded and everybody just forgets," says another fan.

"Lmao they paraded Jaehaerys' body through the streets, hanged rat catchers and nobody in KL remembers Rhaenyra as a child killer. This show is beyond bad," says someone else.

"Is insane. This type of stuff will follow a character for the entirety of Game of Thrones. And here they were [like], oh sorry there's rats because Aegon killed all the rat catchers. I guess he just did it for the love of the game, not other reason whatsoever," says another fan. Aegon did this because the killers posed as rat catchers.

House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. Keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule.

For even more, check out our House of the Dragon season 3 review or our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

House of the Dragon season 3, episode 3 entirely revolves around the newly ascended Queen Rhaenyra attempting to rule the Seven Kingdoms, though she's faced with a myriad of problems, from the big (the treasury is empty), to the small (the Red Keep is overrun with rats).

Across the runtime, we see the queen's grip on her composure slackening as the reality of ruling sets in – especially when, in one moment, she mistakes a servant for her son Jacaerys, who perished in the Battle of the Gullet.

While this is a standout episode of House of the Dragon season 3, some fans think we should have seen something like it earlier in Game of Thrones season 8.

"Great episode. My biggest problem with the character arc of Daenerys in the final season of GoT was how abrupt and poorly paced it was, and I couldn't help thinking that an episode just like this one tonight (S3E3) is exactly what Daenerys needed," says one fan on Reddit. "The pans and flashes to rats roaming around unchecked, the music playing all through the episode with small sharp violin/piano notes, all awesome small details to convey sanity and good decision making eroding. If an episode focusing on all the things weighing on Daenerys' mind in the final season of GoT had aired, I think the conclusion to her arc would have felt much better executed"

One of the biggest criticisms of Game of Thrones season 8 is that Daenerys's Mad Queen arc was incredibly rushed, culminating in the Mother of Dragons burning down King's Landing for no real reason at all.

"Daenerys needs this and much, much more in that final season," agrees another person. "Her character felt so well and truly fucked over it broke my heart."

"Daenerys should have overthrown Cersei in the season 7 finale so that the entire season 8 could be dedicated to the White Walker conflict and her Mad Queen arc. Would've been so much better," says another person.

"Yes absolutely this is what she needed in Mereen," agrees another fan. "The whole point is that Rhaenyra is slowly descending into madness. We needed more of an arc for Dany to do that. People point to moments of 'madness' in earlier seasons but she didn’t do any worse than any other male ruler," says someone else.

Not everyone agrees, however. "I'm not sure why people think Rhaenyra is descending into madness. You can be stressed out without going mad," points out one person.

"I don't think the story should have ended with Daenerys losing her mind at all… it means the only female rulers of Westeros were 'mad queens,' which is an unfortunate implication," says another fan.

Emma D'Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra in the show, has previously teased that a downfall might be on the cards, explaining that they and showrunner Ryan Condal were interested in exploring "a movement towards tyranny," adding, "but in particular making that journey legible."

House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. Keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule.

For even more, check out our House of the Dragon season 3 review or our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

House of the Dragon season 3 has found a very clever way to reference its source material, George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood.

In the new opening credits, the tapestry chronicling the history of the Targaryens is added to each episode with the latest major events from the season. But, if you pay close attention, you'll notice that the artistic rendering of these events is slightly different from what actually happened.

For example, in the Battle of the Gullet, it was Alyn who killed Sharako Lohar, but, in the tapestry, Corlys Velaryon is shown dramatically facing off with Lohar. Similarly, Jacaerys Velaryon is shown being killed by arrows, though the actual circumstances of his death are subtly different in the show to the tapestry (he's falling backwards in the tapestry, while in the show, he was already in the water).

"I love working in the contested history of Fire & Blood into these little flourishes," says one fan on Twitter – and it's true that this seems to be a deliberate nod to Martin's book.

Fire and Blood is a pseudo-historical text that tells the history of House Targaryen, but the twist is it's presented as coming from three different sources who each disagree with each other on the details. That means the truth of what really happened is unknown. So, the tapestry telling a false version of history perfectly fits the book's themes.

The source material has been a hot topic for House of the Dragon season 3 after Martin's infamous blog post about a "toxic" butterfly effect caused by making changes to his book. One change to Fire and Blood might have accidentally erased Daenerys Targaryen from canon (though it's an easy fix), while the show might even have referenced Martin's blog post with a sly Easter egg.

House of the Dragon continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. Keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule.

For even more, check out our House of the Dragon season 3 review or our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

As House of the Dragon season 3 continues to air, Game of Thrones fans are debating all of the important topics, including who is the best swordfighter in all of Westeros' history.

The debate kicked off over on Twitter when one fan asked, "Who’s coming out alive" in a fight to the death between Jamie Lannister and Daemon Targaryen. Now, not that this would ever happen, as Daemon was born hundreds of years before Jaime, but a lot of fans seem to be backing the Golden Lion over the Rogue Prince.

"George R.R. Martin says Jamie is a top three fighter in the entire history of A Song of Ice and Fire," said one fan, while another added, "If your name isn't Barristan Selmy, Arthur Dayne, Aemon the Dragonknight, Daemon Blackfyre, Robert Baratheon or Aegon the Conqueror, Jamie is killing you within 5 moves."

However, many fans think Daemon has it in him to beat the Lannister, as he has shown just what he can do with a sword in House of the Dragon. Who could forget when he sliced Ser Vaemond Velaryon's head in half with one swipe in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8, after Lord Corlys' brother badmouthed Rhaenyra. "This is disrespectful to Daemon," added one Twitter user.

Funnily enough, Daemon star Matt Smith has already answered a similar question in the past. But rather than asking if Daemon could beat Jaime in a fight, it was Jon Snow. "Mate, I've got a dragon," said Smith on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon back in 2024. "Jon Snow is a bad boy. Don't get me wrong. Kit Harington, lovely man, lovely guy. I have a lot of respect. But don't get it twisted. I would fuck those brothers up." Well, there you have it.

As for Jaime Lannister, the Knight didn't go out in a blaze of glory, but was crushed under the Red Keep after Daenerys Targaryen invaded King's Landing. Daemon is still fighting strong in his respective show, but as the Dance of the Dragons continues to play out, no one is really safe on Team Black or Team Green.

House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 hits HBO on July 5 in the US and on HBO Max and Sky on July 6 in the UK. You can find exact timings in our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule. For more, read our House of the Dragon season 3 review, and keep up with upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

Another episode of House of the Dragon season 3 has landed on HBO, and, of course, an eagle-eyed fan has found yet another difference between the on-screen adaptation and George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones book series.

Warning, this article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 3 episode 2, so turn back now if you haven't caught up yet.

At the end of episode 2, after the guards follow Alicent's orders and open the gates for Rhaenyra and Daemon, the pair approach the throne room, and Rhaenyra finally sits on the Iron Throne. However, in Fire and Blood, when the Queen first sits on the throne, she cuts herself on one of the swords, and onlookers see her leave the room with blood running down her legs and arms, which does not happen on screen.

Fans have noticed the change, as one said on Twitter, "I wish they had shown the Iron Throne cutting Rhaenyra. Maybe it’s coming in the next episode." The fan added that the reason it "has to happen" is that "she needs to be rejected by the throne bc she is a villain, not a hero." However, other fans pointed out that the show so far has not painted her as a villain, so it may not happen for that very reason.

The Iron Throne cutting Rhaenyra signifies that her rule won't last long, foreshadowing what is to come. However, even though we did not see the throne slice her in episode 2, the Targaryen Queen does suffer a few blunders.

When she entered the throne room, she was hiding behind Daemon, which the Kingsguard pointed out was funny to see. Then later, Rhaenyra says she is unable to kill Alicent's father, ex-Hand, and master manipulator Otto Hightower in place of Aegon as the usurper, and asks Daemon to do it. But when she does try to behead Otto, she fails at first. Whereas Daemon is able to deliver one killing blow to his victim. These actions may nod to Rhaenyra not being fit to rule. But we have to remember that she has just lost another son in battle, and that killing Otto will affect Alicent

This isn't the first change the show has made to its source material. Just this season, the HBO series made major changes to the Battle of the Gullet, and even the opening credits include the incorrect Targaryen sigil sporting a four-legged dragon, which Martin has made it clear that only two-legged dragons exist in his universe, no matter how many heads they have.

House of the Dragon season 3 continues to air weekly on HBO and HBO Max. You can find exact timings in our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule. For more, read our House of the Dragon season 3 review, and keep up with upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

House of the Dragon season 3 is here, kicking off its junior season with an intense Battle of the Gullet, which differs massively from George R.R. Martin's works, but showrunner Ryan Condal says that was for good reason.

Fans who have read George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones book series will know that The Battle of the Gullet in Fire and Blood is a lot different from what we have just seen in House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1. The naval fight only spans across a few pages in Martin's works, but the show dedicated almost half its premiere episode to the battle. In doing so, the series makes a few changes, adding some characters into the mix, but also leaving out Rheneryra's and Daemon's youngest children, Prince Aegon III and Prince Viserys II.

"That was just one of the many challenges of making the show and telling a story that involves so many children," said Condal to IGN. "We had to compress history a little bit just to make Season 1 take place over 20 years instead of 30 years. So it just meant all of the children in the story are a little bit younger."

The boys are still infants, which makes adapting the book a little tricky. "Her youngest children are just not of an age where you can involve them with complex dramatic sequences, complex action," added Condal. "It's not safe, it's not practical. So it was just something that we had to dispense of rather early on in the process.”

In the book, Aegon and Viserys are caught in the midst of the battle whilst on their way to Pentos for safety. Aegon manages to escape on his young dragon Stormcloud and fly back to Dragonstone, where Jace then sets off to save his other brother, and well, we know how that ends. Viserys is captured by the Triarchy but turns up later on. However, in the series, we presume that the boys are still safe and sound. For more, read our guide on how the Battle of the Gullet in the show is different from the book

However, Condal promises that the duo is still very much involved in the series. "It's not to say that those characters are out of the show," added the showrunner. "We all realize what an important role they play as Rhaenyra's sons with Daemon and the heirs to their particular bloodline and where they sit in the history. So we haven't forgotten about any of that."

House of the Dragon season 3 continues to air weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max and Sky in the UK. See our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our spoiler-free House of the Dragon season 3 review, and guide to upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

As the fantasy series ushers in a darker chapter, House of the Dragon season 3 has a new opening credits sequence, but fans have spotted a mistake in the tapestry.

Towards the end of the opening credits (around the 1 min 31 seconds mark on YouTube), the tapestry includes a four-legged, three-headed black dragon against a red background. This is the Targaryen sigil, which is mentioned in Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin's books and in the main show. However, in Martin's works, the dragon on the sigil has two legs, not four, which Martin has brought up before.

"George R.R. Martin has already said a thousand times that the dragons in his universe have only two legs," said one fan on Twitter, and another added, "Absolute ragebait, this is incredible." You can see it below.

You may be wondering why it is so important that the dragon on the sigil has two legs when it has three heads. The three headed dragon on the sigil represents Aegon the Conqueror and his two sister-queens, Visenya and Rhaenys, who forged the Seven Kingdoms. As for the legs, fewer limbs provide balance and stability, which are key to taking flight.

Martin has shown his distaste for the four-legged beast before. When House of the Dragon season 2 aired, the author took to his blog and wrote, "In my books, the Targaryen sigil has two legs, as it should. Why would any Westerosi ever put four legs on a dragon, when they could look at the real thing and could their limbs?" The author added that Game of Thrones got the sigil right "for the first four seasons and most of the fifth."

"Someone got sloppy, I guess. Or someone opened a book on heraldry, and read just enough of it to muck it all up," added Martin.

However, the reason why House of the Dragon continues to use the incorrect sigil may be for consistency, as Game of Thrones had already adapted it. Nevertheless, Martin does not approve. "Those damned extra legs have even wormed their way onto the covers of my books, over my strenuous objections," said Martin. Alas, at least the living dragons in House of the Dragon do have the correct number of legs.

House of the Dragon season 3 continues to air weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max and Sky in the UK. See our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our spoiler-free House of the Dragon season 3 review, and guide to upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

The latest trailer for House of the Dragon season 3 is full of battles and bloodshed, but there's one blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment that sets up a major tragedy to come from George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood book.

A warning that the following will contain major spoilers for the House of the Dragon source material, including events that will likely be adapted for season 3 and beyond. Turn back now if you don't want to know what happens next!

Season 3 is set to open with the Battle of the Gullet, a naval clash that, tragically, sees the death of Jacaerys Velaryon, who is Rhaenyra's heir.

In the trailer, a voiceover from Daemon is heard saying "You will have an empire unassailable, Rhaenyra, and our children will rule it forever and a day." Right after this line, we see Jacaerys standing behind Rhaenyra.

"The camera focus shifts to Jacaerys, who was meant to be the next monarch, then cuts to him flying off to his death, for those very children to eventually take the throne," one fan on Twitter points out. In Fire and Blood, Rhaenyra's sons with Daemon, Aegon and Viserys, are sent to be fostered in Pentos, and the Triarchy (allied with the greens) take them captive on the way. Aegon is able to escape on his dragon and flies to Dragonstone to warn the blacks. This sparks the Battle of the Gullet.

In the battle, Jacaerys's dragon Vermax is wounded and sent sinking into the ocean, and, while Jace is able to escape drowning, he is swiftly killed by crossbow fire.

After Jacaerys dies, Rhaenyra's next son Joffrey Velaryon becomes heir – though, in Fire and Blood, Joffrey is also ultimately killed. That leaves Rhaenyra's firstborn son with Daemon, Aegon, as heir to the Iron Throne. Aegon does indeed eventually become king, and it is from him that the Targaryen line we know from Game of Thrones is descended. So, Daemon was tragically right that it is his and Rhaenyra's children who will rule their empire, though he was likely referring to Jacaerys and his betrothed Baela (Daemon's daughter).

With the Battle of the Gullet set to come early in the season, that means we'll be losing Jace early, too, which will surely affect the plan Rhaenyra and Alicent devised for the greens to surrender in the House of the Dragon season 2 ending. What happens next remains to be seen, but, judging by the trailer, it won't be easy going for team black or team green as the Dance of the Dragons gets more intense.

House of the Dragon returns this June 21 in the US and June 22 in the UK. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming TV shows to fill out your watchlist.

Warner Bros. has announced that the Game of Thrones movie is definitely happening, and we even know what it will be about.

The movie was first reported in March 2026, with the report indicating the film would possibly be about Aegon's Conquest. Thanks to the new update, we know the movie will definitely be about this seismic event in Westerosi history.

Per Variety, the movie's working title is Game of Thrones: Aegon's Conquest, and it was included on the Warner Bros. slate at CinemaCon in the "2027 and beyond" category.

This Aegon is Aegon I, the original Targaryen king who conquered Westeros and united it under his rule, along with his two sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys.

House of the Dragon has revealed that Aegon did this thanks to the prophecy of the prince that was promised, which meant he foresaw the threat of the White Walkers – and that a Targaryen ruler had to be on the throne to prevent the apocalypse.

Not much else is known about the film just yet, though it was previously reported that Aegon's Conquest was being developed both as a "mammoth Dune-sized feature film" and as a TV show. The Batman 2 co-writer Mattson Tomlin was working on the show, while Andor scribe Beau Willimon is working on the film. Judging by this latest update, the show is no more.

This announcement comes hot on the heels of George R.R. Martin's publisher denying a rumor that The Winds of Winter would release this year, as the wait for the sixth book is about to surpass the wait for all five books combined.

But, if you're missing Westeros, there's plenty coming very soon to tide you over. House of the Dragon season 3 lands this summer, while A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 will arrive in 2027.

Plus, the stage play Game of Thrones: The Mad King is set to open this July in the UK's Stratford-upon-Avon, telling the story of the pivotal tourney at Harrenhaal, when Rhaegar Targaryen crowned Lyanna Stark the queen of love and beauty.

There's no release date for the Game of Thrones movie just yet, but, while you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and shows.

Sorry, folks. The wait for The Winds of Winter goes on as George R.R. Martin's US publisher has addressed recent rumors.

"The online chatter you are seeing regarding a supposed leak is false," Bantam Books told Entertainment Weekly.

The leak in question, from a supposed 'production assistant', said that the full manuscript for the sixth book in the Song of Ice and Fire was completed and delivered by Martin in January – with a San Diego Comic-Con announcement and fall release window planned.

As we mentioned earlier this week, we're just months away from crossing into remarkable territory: the wait for The Winds of Winter, as of July 2026, will surpass the total time (14 years, 11 months) it took for Martin to publish the first five novels in the series. But who's counting?

As of January, Martin had provided an update-of-sorts on The Winds of Winter, which is fast becoming pop culture shorthand for a project that will never be completed.

"It would feel like a total failure to me. I want to finish," Martin told The Hollywood Reporter.

Perhaps the biggest indicator of the chokehold the project has over Martin arrived a year ago in a candid admission during an interview with Time.

There, he said: "That's the curse of my life here. There's no doubt Winds of Winter is 13 years late. I'm still working on it. I have periods where I make progress and then other things divert my attention."

Those other things include A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is returning for a second season and House of the Dragon – despite a public falling out with showrunner Ryan Condal.

For more, read our guides on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 and new TV shows.

An adorable blooper reel for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been shared across the official Game of Thrones social media accounts, and the two minute clip is full of laughs – and is proof that no other cast could have brought the tale of hedge knight Dunk and his squire Egg to life.

The clip features Peter Claffey (Dunk) cracking up in laughter, Dexter Sol Ansell (Egg) jumbling his lines, and plenty of moments of the cast just messing around. Check it out below.

If you can't get enough of Dunk and Egg, the good news is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 is currently filming. The story will adapt the second of Martin's novellas, titled The Sworn Sword.

"We're now getting into The Sworn Sword, which is my favorite novella in many ways, with Rohanne Webber or the Red Widow, Ser Bennis, and Ser Eustace, who are these classic characters," showrunner Ira Parker said recently. "I can't say much but we have three absolutely brilliant actors coming in to do these roles. I'm excited. We are cutting some scenes together now, and the directors are seeing some of it, so it feels nice to see [season 2] slowly come together. The show coming out at the same time as we work on it has been a blessing in many ways. It allows you to do what Dunk does by putting one foot in front of the other to focus on the work instead of just focusing on the response."

Next up for Westeros, though, is House of the Dragon season 3. The first trailer recently dropped, and it teases the highly anticipated Battle of the Gullet, and it seems seriously dramatic. Get ready for more fire and blood.

House of the Dragon season 3 arrives this June. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and shows for everything else that's on the way.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans are wondering whether one particular line in last week's season finale is a dig – or good-natured joke – at Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin

The line in question comes via a flashback, when Ser Arlan says to Dunk, "A true knight always finishes a story." This is in response to Dunk asking his mentor why he never knighted him, but Arlan dies soon after, so Dunk never finds out why.

"Do you think it’s a shot towards GRRM?" asked one fan on Reddit, referring to the 15-year (and counting) wait for the next A Song of Ice and Fire novel, The Winds of Winter.

"Honestly, I think this was written as a joke between Ira and GRRM. I think George is in on it," said another. Martin is a co-creator and executive producer on the show, so he has some involvement.

"It was very likely GRRM’s idea, as a joke. That’s his type of humor. Or if not his idea, he certainly found it funny and approved," wrote someone else. "Similar to his own self-deprecating reference of 'which plan? That fat man's plan that changes every time the moon turns?'"

Others had given the scene some deeper thought, however. "Okay, so a serious response, it's Dunk speaking to the ghost of Ser Arlan," suggested another user. "And Arlan is telling him that he needs to finish the story he started with Egg. Dunk asked him before this why he never knighted him, and Arlan is essentially responding that if you are truly a knight, then you will see this story through to the end."

Although my interpretation of the scene is that Dunk was never knighted, the ideas was to keep things ambiguous. "There is no confirmation, one way or the other, coming out of that scene. That's exactly how Mr. R.R. Martin requested it. It remains [ambiguous], and people can decide for themselves," showrunner Ira Parker recently teased.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows down-on-his-luck hedge knight Dunk as he attempts to make a name for himself at a tourney after the death of his mentor, Ser Arlan. On the way, he meets a mysterious young boy named Egg, who's determined to be Dunk's squire – whether Dunk likes it or not.

All episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are available to stream now on HBO Max in the US and NOW in the UK. For more on the show, check out our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review or our guide to the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 ending explained.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 has concluded, and it's safe to say there's one big question on every viewers' lips: so, is Dunk actually a knight? Well, according to showrunner Ira Parker, the answer to that was deliberately left "ambiguous" in the spin-off by request of Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.

In episode 6, titled 'The Morrow', we see Duncan (Peter Claffey) ask his mentor Ser Arlan (Danny Webb) why he never knighted him in a flashback – only to never receive an answer, since Arlan seemingly dies shortly after. Though the show leaves the exact timeline of that fairly open-ended, too, which makes way for fans' imaginations to fill in their own blanks with certain theories, says Parker.

"We think it's over. But then, he's back and, as far as we know, the continuation of that scene is, 'Boy, go get me my sword,' and then he knights him," he teased in a new interview with Collider. "There is no confirmation, one way or the other, coming out of that scene. That's exactly how Mr. R.R. Martin requested it. It remains [ambiguous], and people can decide for themselves.

"Look, Danny Webb is a fucking magician. I love him so much. He's just become Arlan. It could have been no one else in this whole world. He was just pitch perfect, all the way up until his death. This whole journey is going to be about what makes a true knight, whether or not you're given the title, or if you have to earn the title even after you're given it. Can you earn it, even if you've never been given it?"

Also starring Daniel Ings, Finn Bennett, Tanzyn Crawford, and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunc's young squire Aegon 'Egg' Targaryen, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was renewed for a second season before season 1's premiere in November 2025.

The next chapter, which will be based on Martin's 2003 novel The Sworn Sword, is expected in 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to the most exciting new TV shows heading our way.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner has revealed that he thinks Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin would have preferred for Dunk and Egg's story to be told in a movie instead of a TV show.

"I would say it was probably George [R.R. Martin's] preference to do a two-hour movie," Ira Parker said during a roundtable interview (via CBR). "But since HBO came to me with this, they were very amenable to any length or format that we wanted to use."

The show ended up being six episodes long, with each installment clocking in between 30 and 40 minutes. Personally, I think the nature of the story lends itself well to an episodic format – and, at this point, Game of Thrones just feels synonymous with the small screen.

The latest episode, which is the season's penultimate outing, stuck to Game of Thrones tradition by making it the biggest and bloodiest installment yet. Episode 5, titled 'In the Name of the Mother,' saw hedge knight Dunk go head-to-head with Prince Aerion Targaryen in a brutal Trial by Seven, which ended in tragedy for one beloved character.

'In the Name of the Mother' is now one of the highest-rated Game of Thrones episodes ever on IMDb, with only big hitters from the original show like The Rains of Castermere and Battle of the Bastards beating it to the top spot.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs weekly on HBO and HBO Max in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK. Stay up to date with our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule, or get up to speed on our verdict with our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review.

Dexter Sol Ansell, who plays young squire Egg in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, seems to have let slip a major spoiler about events in A Song of Ice and Fire.

While there are only three Dunk and Egg novellas, pieces of their story can be found across George R.R. Martin's other work, which means we know a bit about their ultimate fates. Now, the following will explore book spoilers, so turn back now if you don't want to find out what's coming up for Dunk and Egg!

In the Song of Ice and Fire lore, Egg eventually becomes king, and he dies in a fire at the castle Summerhall. While it's not totally clear what the circumstances surrounding the fire are, it seems likely that Egg was trying to bring dragons back from extinction. The fire was a great tragedy that killed Egg, Egg's son Duncan (named for Dunk), and Dunk himself. Except… it seems that might not be quite true.

"I do know a bit about when Egg's trying to make dragons in the Summerhall, and then there's a huge fire," Ansell said in an interview with Decider, which is currently circulating on social media. "But we know from George, we know Dunk survives, but we don't know if Egg survives yet."

His co-star Peter Claffey quickly added: "We don't know exactly what's happened, but let's just get this season 1 out of the way and we'll see." Watch the moment below.

Not only has Ansell seemingly confirmed that the fire is caused by Egg trying to bring back dragons, but he's also revealed that Dunk survives – something which has never been confirmed before, though readers have speculated over the years that the former hedge knight might have made it out alive.

Summerhall is referenced in the show when a soothsayer gives Egg a mysterious prophecy, and it might also be part of Daeron's dream.

The show has a long way to go before it might catch up to these events, though, so we might never find out for sure what really happened at Summerhall.

You can keep up to date with our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule, or see our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review for our spoiler-free verdict on season 1.

The latest Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is based on George R.R. Martin's novellas that chronicle the adventures of the hedge knight Dunk and his squire Egg.

But, there are only three novellas, and the second season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already in production – meaning the show will soon run out of source material.

"After the way Game of Thrones ended, some people are understandably worried when they hear that only 3 D&E books have been published," one fan asked showrunner Ira Parker during a Reddit AMA.

"Is there anything you can say to assuage those fears, along with maybe some rough plans for what you guys are going to do after season 3?"

"Look, in some ways, we know a lot more about what happens after these three novellas because of all the supporting material (you like how i referred to asoiaf [A Song of Ice and Fire] as supporting material for d&e ;) ), and so there's less inherent danger... not no danger, just less…" Parker wrote in reply. "Anything beyond book 3 (if we could ever be so wonderfully lucky) would highly involve George."

Parker has already previously revealed that Martin has shared "about 10 to 12 more little outlines for books, for novellas, taking Dunk and Egg all the way through their life," so we can rest assured that the duo are in safe hands.

In the same AMA, Parker also admitted to making two mistakes in the show, including accidentally cutting a major line from the novella.

You can keep up to date with our guide to the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule, or read our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review for our spoiler-free verdict on the whole show.

George R.R Martin wasn't really involved in House of the Dragon season 3, HBO boss Casey Bloys has confirmed.

Instead, the Game of Thrones creator "took a step back" from the tension-filled prequel to focus on developing the small-screen take on his "favorite" A Song of Ice and Fire stories: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

"He definitely took a step back, and I would say he's definitely been focusing on Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," Bloys recently explained to Deadline. "And I will tell you one of the reasons why [head of drama] Frannie [Orsi] and I really thought about the Knight of Seven Kingdoms as an interesting adaptation is, we had always heard and know that it was George's favorite, that was meaningful to us."

While Bloys doesn't elaborate on the reasons Martin has distanced himself from House of the Dragon, beyond favoring A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' story, it's worth noting that the author described his relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner as "abysmal" just last month. "I would give notes, and nothing would happen. It got to a point where I was told by HBO that I should submit all my notes to them and they would give Ryan our combined notes," he said.

Based on Martin's A Tale of Dunk and Egg novellas, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows Ser Duncan (Peter Claffey), a hedge knight who takes on a young squire with a mysterious heritage – which was revealed in episode 3, much to the befuddlement of 1-year-old actor Dexter Sol Ansell – and sets out on adventures across a Targaryen-ruled Westeros. Its run concludes on February 22.

The show, which currently holds an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, airs on Sundays on HBO in the US and Mondays on NOW/Sky Atlantic in the UK. Never miss an episode with our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule.

House of the Dragon season 3 is expected to release in summer 2026. For more, check out our picks of the most exciting new TV shows heading our way.

In the third episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a mysterious prophecy is given to Dunk and Egg – and it has some fascinating roots in George R.R. Martin's sprawling Westeros lore.

Below, we've broken down what this prophecy is in the show, as well as what it means based on information from the books. Naturally, that means there are A Song of Ice and Fire spoilers ahead, and these spoilers will give away the fates of multiple A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms characters. So, if you don't want to know any more about the show, turn back before the second section of our explainer.

For even more on the show, check out our 4-star A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review for our spoiler-free verdict on the whole show.

What is the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 prophecy?

A mysterious woman offering fortunes at the tourney tells Dunk, "you shall know great success and be richer than a Lannister," which he dismisses – after all, it sounds pretty meaningless. However, when the woman looks at Egg, her voice becomes much more serious, and what she says next seems to carry great weight.

"You shall be king, and die in hot fire, and worms shall feed upon your ashes. And all who know you shall rejoice in your dying," she tells the boy, to his horror.

What does the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 prophecy mean? *Spoilers*

If you're still reading, then you don't mind encountering spoilers from George R.R. Martin's wider lore, which could end up spoiling very distant plot points for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

As we learn in the final moments of episode 3, Egg is actually Prince Aegon, son of Maekar, and brother of Aerion (read our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Targaryen guide for the full family tree). However, Egg isn't directly in line for the throne just yet, as Baelor and his two sons stand in the way.

In Martin's Hedge Knight novella, Baelor is tragically killed defending Dunk in a trial against Aerion. That makes Baelor's son, whom we've seen briefly in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, next in line. But, both of Baelor's sons later die in the Spring Sickness, along with the king, Daeron II.

The king's brother Aerys I takes over, and from him, his son Maekar (the same one in the show) eventually inherits the throne. When Maekar dies, a succession crisis arises: his sons Daeron and Aerion have both already died, and his other son, Aemon, is at the Wall (we see him in Game of Thrones season 1). Ultimately, a Great Council – like the one shown in the House of the Dragon prologue – is called, and Egg is declared king, making him Aegon V.

However, Egg isn't that popular with the lords of Westeros, as he favors the smallfolk and brings in reforms that the nobility aren't fans of. He also doesn't have any dragons, since they went extinct in Westeros before his reign. Sadly, an obsession with resurrecting dragons is what ultimately kills him.

While the full details of the Tragedy of Summerhall still haven't been revealed, we do know that Egg, Dunk, and Egg's son Duncan (named after Dunk) perish in a terrible fire, most likely caused by an attempt to bring back dragons.

This fire occurs on the day of Prince Rhaegar's birth – he's the older brother of Daenerys, and Daenerys, as we know, will ultimately be the Targaryen who brings dragons back to life – and Rhaegar, born at Summerhall, is one of the survivors of the blaze.

So, the prophecy will indeed be fulfilled. Egg will be king and die in hot fire, and the lords who disliked him will probably rejoice – though, Summerhall is regarded as a major tragedy in Westerosi history, so not everyone will be happy. Either way, it's a sad fate for this young squire.

You can keep up to date with the show with our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule, or see our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and shows for everything else that's in store.

Former Skyrim lead turned novelist Bruce Nesmith has some rather contrarian advice for Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who has repeatedly admitted to struggling with finishing his A Song of Ice and Fire series: Just throw in the towel, man.

Having previously served as lead designer on Skyrim, Nesmith left Bethesda Game Studios and the video game industry as a whole in 2021, after which he turned to writing novels. He's since published three books in the Loki Redeemed series as well as a three-book LitRPG series, Glory Seeker. With this considerable experience in fantasy novel writing, Nesmith commented on Martin's dilemma in a recent interview with Press Box PR.

"George gave his story to somebody else and they ran with it and they did an amazing job with it," said Nesmith, referring to HBO's eight-season TV adaptation, Game of Thrones. "I think he'd be wise to say they finished my work and now I want to do something new. Getting the work finished, for me at least, would have precedence over the fact that I had to personally do it.

Fans of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire have been anxiously waiting for the next book in the series, The Winds of Winter, for some 15 years. Martin, 77, has been increasingly candid in recent years about his struggles finishing the next book and series, which is supposed to wrap up with a final entry, A Dream of Spring. HBO's adaptation, while extremely well-received in its first few seasons, famously fumbled the ending at right about the point it diverged from Martin's novels because there was no more source work to draw from. To say HBO did "an amazing job" with its adaptation overall is certainly a take.

If anything, the historic failure of HBO's Game of Thrones is even more of a reason for Martin to correct the record and give the world his original vision for the finale of what has been, so far, a masterclass in high fantasy writing. In my opinion, it would be the best and only way to respond to critics of the show and say, basically, 'Don't look at me. This is my story.' But that's just me.

As for Nesmith, he's just happy to be able to say he's completed his series, even if he'd happily accept an offer from HBO. "I don’t want to go down George’s path unless somebody wants to offer me an HBO deal for my stories, in which I’d be glad to let [Game of Thrones showrunner] David Benioff finish it for me."

Game of Thrones fans are praising A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for "finally" getting one key detail from George R.R. Martin's books right

Game of Thrones fans are celebrating one key detail from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, because it "finally" gets something right from the books that the other shows haven't.

In the latest episode of the new show, we're briefly introduced to two members of the Kingsguard, the elite team of knights who protect the royal family with their lives. Their armor in the show is bright white, which matches the way George R.R. Martin describes it in the books. In Game of Thrones, the Kingsguard armor is gold with elements of white, while in House of the Dragon, it's mainly silver and white.

In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, however, the armor is pure white, with only a very minimal gold detail at the belt.

"OMFG FINALLY THEY HAVE BOOK ACCURATE KINGS GUARD ARMOR LETS GOOOOO," says one fan.

"Finally AKOTSK is doing the Kingsguard's armor justice," says someone else, while another fan says: "ALL WHITE KINGSGUARD ARMOR. I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS."

"This is def the best armor of the Kingsguard that we saw," says another person. But, not everyone is convinced.

"Maybe unpopular opinion here, but seeing them in live action is the best argument why GOT and HOTD didn't make book accurate armor lol," says one viewer.

Game of Thrones fans have also realised that a Kingsguard-related detail in the main show leads to Joffrey spoiling future events involving Knight of the Seven Kingdoms characters, just like he also gave away the outcome of the Dance of the Dragons.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continues weekly, and you can use our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule to keep up to date. For even more, see our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review for our spoiler-free verdict on the whole show.

Ask almost any Game of Thrones fan, and they'll tell you that things didn't end particularly well for their favorite character. Those who loved Sansa were pleased to see her crowned Queen of the North, sure, and Davos lovers might have been satisfied with him heading off on a sea-faring adventure. The less said about Jon and Daenerys' divisive send-offs, though, the better.

Creator George R.R. Martin, however, says he was planning to conclude things in even bleaker ways in the long-awaited last books in his A Song of Ice and Fire series.

"I was going to kill more people," the author revealed in a candid new interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "Not the ones they killed [in the show]. They made it more of a happy ending. I don't see a happy ending for Tyrion. His whole arc has been tragic from the first. I was going to have Sansa die, but she's been so appealing in the show, maybe I'll let her live …"

While Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) was the only character killed in the finale, Cersei (Lena Headey) and Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) met their maker in the penultimate chapter, having been crushed by debris as Daenerys and Drogon attacked King's Landing and the Red Keep collapsed.

The siblings' (and lovers) brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) lived, and was reinstated as the Hand of the King, but many viewers saw this as bittersweet because his personal success ultimately came at the cost of his family and its legacy, as well as his other personal relationships.

It's been 15 since Ice and Fire readers were treated to a new book, with A Dance with Dragons having been published in 2011. Despite the delay in the next installment, titled The Winds of Winter, though, Martin insisted that he still intends to wrap things up. In fact, he'd feel like "a total failure" if he were to leave things open-ended...

"I would hate that. I want to finish," he stated. "If I wound up doing everything in my head, this could be the longest book in the series."

Game of Thrones is streaming now on HBO. For more, check out our guide to the most exciting new TV shows heading our way or our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review.

George R.R. Martin is still working on The Winds of Winter, which serves as the final book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

"I would hate that," Martin told The Hollywood Reporter. "It would feel like a total failure to me. I want to finish. If I wound up doing everything in my head, this could be the longest book in the series."

The bestselling fantasy author has been working on the sixth and final Game of Thrones book since 2010. In 2022, Martin said the novel was "three-quarters" of the way finished, with a page count of 1,100-1,200 (H/T IGN). The lengthiest Game of Thrones book is A Dance with Dragons, which boasts a word count of 1,056 pages.

Though fans have posited that he should let another writer take over, Martin is less than keen: "If that happens, my work won’t be finished. It’ll be like The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Edwin Drood is the last novel Charles Dickens was working on before his death in 1870. Rather than tap another writer to finish the book, it was published as six installments – though Dickens had always intended for the novel to be put out in 12 installments.

While we wait for Martin to finish The Winds of Winter, we have a brand new Game of Thrones spin-off to watch in the meantime. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, an adaptation of George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, is set to HBO Max on January 18 (or January 19 for UK viewers).

For more, read our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review or check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.

After George R.R. Martin made waves when he took to his blog to share criticism of the direction of House of the Dragon season 2, the Song of Ice and Fire creator has shared even more candid thoughts about what's going on behind the scenes of the Game of Thrones spin-off – and it seems the disagreement led to HBO asking Martin to step away from the show entirely, though he came back onboard months later.

The post, shared then quickly deleted in September 2024, railed against changes made to his source material that, Martin thought, would have negative knock-on effects as the show went on. "And there are larger and more toxic butterflies to come, if House of the Dragon goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons 3 and 4…" he wrote.

The Hollywood Reporter's latest cover story is a mammoth interview with Martin, and in it, Martin spoke frankly about the situation.

When asked how the relationship between Martin and House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal "got so rocky," Martin said: "It's worse than rocky," adding, "It's abysmal."

Martin explained that, after their relationship "was working really well" in season 1 (with Martin reportedly backing Condal at his request during a disagreement with original co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik, who left the show before season 2), things eventually changed.

"Then we got into season 2, and he basically stopped listening to me," Martin said. "I would give notes, and nothing would happen. Sometimes he would explain why he wasn't doing it. Other times, he would tell me, 'Oh, OK, yeah, I'll think about that.' It got worse and worse, and I began to get more and more annoyed. Finally, it got to a point where I was told by HBO that I should submit all my notes to them and they would give Ryan our combined notes."

According to THR's sources, after a Zoom call involving Condal explaining his vision for season 3 saw Martin allegedly share objections and state "this is not my story any longer," HBO reportedly asked Martin to step away from House of the Dragon entirely – though he was brought back into the fold months later.

"George and Ryan had a disagreement on the direction of season three," an HBO insider told THR. "At that point, it was clear that the process and communication with them was broken and needed a reset. So there was naturally a period where everyone took a step back for a while until we could figure out a new way forward."

As for that infamous blog post, THR says Martin himself didn't remove it: instead, it was his assistant, acting after an HBO executive reached out to his manager. "I would've put it back up, but then I would've looked like an idiot,” Martin said, adding: "And 80 percent of it was praise, but that's not what people focused on."

Happily, though, Martin seems to be far more impressed by the next Westerosi spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. "George has been such a wonderful partner in this," showrunner Ira Parker said during a recent roundtable interview attended by GamesRadar+. "I spent a week in Santa Fe with him and some of his favorite writers, and we were just breaking ideas and breaking stories for what season 1 of the show could look like. And there were a lot of surprises that came out of there, just some really wonderful ideas, things that George gravitated towards that we were doing, that we were introducing."

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms arrives this January 18 on HBO in the US and January 19 on Sky/NOW in the UK. House of the Dragon season 3 is also coming this year, expected in the summer.

For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows, or read our 4-star A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review.

George R.R. Martin isn't always such a big fan of his books' adaptations. He had a few choice words for changes made in House of the Dragon season 2, for example, but he's been nothing but supportive of new spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, according to showrunner Ira Parker.

"George has been such a wonderful partner in this," he says during a roundtable interview attended by GamesRadar+. "I spent a week in Santa Fe with him and some of his favorite writers, and we were just breaking ideas and breaking stories for what season 1 of the show could look like. And there were a lot of surprises that came out of there, just some really wonderful ideas, things that George gravitated towards that we were doing, that we were introducing."

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on Martin's novella The Hedge Knight, which follows Dunk (Peter Claffey), a new hedge knight trying to make a name for himself after the death of his master. He enters a tourney, and finds himself with an eager wannabe squire in the form of Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).

"I think he really loved the idea of the Baratheon tent and meeting Lyonel Baratheon in that capacity, which was wonderful," Parker continues, referring to the introduction of the audacious Lord of Storm's End.

"I think something really cool with the design of our puppetry came out of those meetings, you know, this big, sort of, almost like War Horse-style puppetry, rather than the smaller hand puppets in the novella," he adds. "It's such a rich creative experience, any time that you get to have him [and] can pull him away from all his other writings, so we got along very well, and he's only been a benefit to the show."

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on January 18. Stay up to date with our A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule, or look ahead with our guide to the other upcoming Game of Thrones shows and movies in the works.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner Ira Parker has revealed that George R.R. Martin shared the ideas for up to a dozen currently unpublished novellas that could extend the story of Dunk and Egg for many years to come.

"He has shared with me about 10 to 12 more little outlines for books, for novellas, taking Dunk and Egg all the way through their life," Parker told The National.

"Right now, we’re focused on one, and we’ll see how the world responds to that. We’re making two at the moment," he continued "Hopefully, everybody likes it and we get to keep doing these. Certainly, I love doing it. I love writing in this world, and it’s a wonderful story. So, I hope we get to make as many of these as possible."

As of 2010, Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg series comprises three novellas: The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight. The 85-page Hedge Knight has been adapted into season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Whether those "10 to 12" future installments ever get written is another thing (we're still waiting for The Winds of Winter, after all...), but it looks like we may get to see the duo's adventures continue on screen, at any rate.

The show is set 90 years before Game of Thrones and follows down-on-his-luck hedge knight Dunk (Peter Claffey), AKA Ser Duncan the Tall, and his young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as he attempts to make a name for himself against a host of more prolific knights in a tourney.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on HBO and Sky on January 18. For more on Westeros-set spin-offs, check out our guide to all the other upcoming Game of Thrones shows and movies on the way.

House of the Dragon season 3 may currently be airing on our screens but there are loads of other upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows in the works as well. The world of Westeros is sure looking busy over the next few years, meaning there has never been a better time to be a fan of George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy world.

And yes, we may still be waiting for a new book (no The Winds of Winter yet) but we do have plenty of exciting shows and movies on the way. There's a second season of the wonderful A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and even a stage show to look forward to, which will chronicle the events of the tourney at Harrenhal in the UK's Stratford-upon-Avon this summer.

Below, we've taken a deep dive into all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows you need to know about. This includes some canceled projects, too. So, for all you need to know, head below...

Upcoming Game of Thrones movies and shows TBC

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2

Status: Filming
Release date: TBC

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 is well on its way to our screens. Filming kicked off in December 2025, before season 1 had even aired, and we can expect the action to take us away from Ashford Meadow and onto Dorne as hedge knight Dunk and his new squire Egg continue their adventures.

Each season of the Game of Thrones prequel is set to be based on one of George R.R. Martin's novellas, so season 2 will adapt The Sworn Sword. With each novella being a standalone story, we can expect a new cast of supporting characters to be introduced next season – but showrunner Ira Parker says never say never to the return of some familiar faces.

Aegon's Conquest

Status: In development
Release date: TBC

There have been talks of both a 'Game of Thrones movie' penned by Andor scribe Beau Willimon, and an 'Aegon's Conquest movie' written by The Batman 2's Mattson Tomlin being in the works. However, it seems as though Warner Bros. has rolled these projects into one, as the 'Game of Thrones movie', which Warner Bros. was said to be "quietly developing" back in 2024 (The Hollywood Reporter ), actually is Aegon's Conquest.

During the studios' presentation at CinemaCon 2026, Warner Bros. confirmed that Game of Thrones: Aegon's Conquest, which is the movie's working title, is officially happening. The film was included in the "2027 and beyond" category. That means we could see the new film in a matter of a few years. Willimon is still on board to write.

While plot details haven't been clarified just yet, we can take some cues from Martin's source material. Aegon's Conquest is pretty much the first event to happen on the Game of Thrones timeline, kickstarting the entire saga. After foreseeing the Doom of Valyria, Aegon took his dragons and sister-wives and flew to conquer Westeros. This established the Targaryen dynasty, which ultimately came to an end with Robert's Rebellion (before the Game of Thrones show). So, this series would be a prequel to pretty much everything.

Snow

Status: In development
Release date: TBC

The scrapped Jon Snow Game of Thrones spin-off that would have been a sequel show starring Kit Harington might be back in development – and Arya Stark might make a comeback, too.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the first incarnation of the spin-off would have seen Jon Snow living north of the Wall with PTSD, without his direwolf Ghost or his sword Longclaw. Jon Snow would've been a broken man who built cabins then burned them down. Harington also apparently wanted his iconic character to die.

According to the publication, HBO unsurprisingly found this too downbeat, so it was put aside. But, reportedly, Drops of God's Quoc Dang Tran has recently joined the project for a fresh take. Nothing is set for definite, but there is a chance of the story taking place in Essos, and Arya might return. Whether this ends up happening, and whether Kit Harington or Maisie Williams return, remains to be seen.

The Sea Snake/Nine Voyages

Status: In development
Release date: TBC

This particular spin-off would follow the adventures of the Sea Snake, AKA Corlys Velaryon. He was introduced to live-action in House of the Dragon season 1, played by Steve Toussaint. However, the show has been switched from live-action to animation, as revealed by Martin himself on his Not a Blog page in 2023. "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."

As for the other two animated projects, it's not entirely clear what they are, or whether they're still going ahead (though we assume one is the Yi Ti animated show titled The Golden Empire). And, like many projects on this list, updates on this project have been scarce.

The latest update we had came from Corlys himself who is still hopeful it will be made.

Ten Thousand Ships

Status: In development
Release date: TBC

Ten Thousand Ships will follow Nymeria, the historical figure Arya named her Direwolf after way back at the start of Game of Thrones. After Nymeria's home of Rhoyne was conquered, Nymeria crossed the ocean to settle in Dorne, marrying Lord Mors Martell (of the same House Martell as the show) and ruling as Princess. Brian Helgeland was originally on board to write the series, but HBO didn't pick up his version. "It came out great, but I think they felt the period of my show was too far removed from the pillars of the original. That’s why it hasn’t been picked up yet, but nothing is ever dead," he told Inverse.

But, Martin revealed in 2024 that a new pilot was in the works, written by Eboni Booth. "She’s an amazingly talented young playwright, and a joy to work with; when not writing and producing her prize-winning plays on- and off-Broadway, she has been kept busy by me and HBO, working on a new pilot for TEN THOUSAND SHIPS, a GAME OF THRONES spinoff about Nymeria and the Rhoynar. We're all very excited about this one… though we're still trying to figure out how we're going to pay for ten thousand ships, three hundred dragons, and those giant turtles," he wrote.

The Golden Empire

Status: In development
Release date: TBC

The Golden Empire is another show we know hardly anything about, but Martin has spoken about it on his Not a Blog page. "Over on the animated side… well, I am not allowed to talk about most of what’s happening, except to say that things are moving very fast, and I love love love some of the concept art I am seeing," he wrote in 2022. "And.. wait, come to think of it, the news leaked several months ago that one of the animated shows would be set in Yi Ti. That's true.

Our working title is THE GOLDEN EMPIRE, and we have a great young writer on that one too, and I think the art and animation is just going to be beautiful. I would tell you more if I could. I don't think I can say a word about the other animated shows. Not yet." Yi Ti is an area we've never seen in the shows before, which lies to the east of Quarth.

Canceled Game of Thrones spin-offs

There have been plenty of Game of Thrones spin-offs that were announced and then cruelly taken from us. So to keep track of all the movies and shows that are no longer with us, we've listed all the now-canceled Game of Thrones spin-offs down below:

• Flea Bottom
• Empire of Ash/a Doom of Valyria spinoff
• Bloodmoon

That's a wrap on upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows. For more on epic fantasy, check out our guide to The Rings of Power season 3. Or check out our list of the best HBO Max shows to watch right now.

2026 will be a big year for Game of Thrones prequels, with both House of the Dragon season 3 and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms arriving on our screens. There are still plenty of prequels in development, too, but author George R.R. Martin has revealed that there are still a few ideas for sequel series in the works.

"Apart from The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon, there are other Game of Thrones spinoff projects in development. Most are prequels," Martin told Spanish-language site Los siete reinos (AKA The Seven Kingdoms). "There are several in development, five or six series, and I'm not developing them alone, I'm working with other people. Yes, there are some sequels."

In 2024, Martin said there were seven TV shows in development, four of which were animated. Of these series, we know details of four, and they're all prequels. There are reportedly two live-action prequels in development: Aegon the Conqueror, about the titular Targaryen's creation of the Seven Kingdoms, and Ten Thousand Ships, about Nymeria, a warrior queen who founded the kingdom of Dorne. As for animated series, there's The Golden Empire, exploring Yi Ti in Essos, and Sea Snake, about the past of House of the Dragon's Corlys Velaryon.

In terms of sequel ideas, that remains a bit of a mystery. A sequel series about Jon Snow was announced back in 2022, but star Kit Harington confirmed that it had been canceled last year. "We spent a couple of years back and forth developing it. And it just didn’t... nothing got us excited enough," he said.

Our next visit to Westeros will be with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which arrives on HBO and Sky on January 18. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the other best new TV shows on the way in 2025 and beyond.

HBO has confirmed the future of Westeros, as both House of the Dragon season 4 and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 have been confirmed by HBO boss Casey Bloys.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will debut in January 2026, meaning it has secured a renewal before it's even aired a single episode. That speaks to HBO's confidence in the show, which is adapted from George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas and follows knight Ser Duncan and his squire, young Egg. Season 2 is slated for 2027.

House of the Dragon season 3, meanwhile, is coming in summer 2026 and will chronicle the next chapter in the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, which pits Team Black against Team Green. House of the Dragon season 2 ended with the stage set for a major conflict, and we can expect the Battle of the Gullet to open season 3. Season 4 is set for 2028, and, judging by the source material (Martin's Fire and Blood faux-history book), we'd expect this to be the final season.

New pictures from both shows have also been unveiled – one of Rhaenyra looking down at her crown (above), Daemon covered in blood in the midst of a battle, and Dunk and Egg celebrating together (below).

"We are thrilled to be able to deliver new seasons of these two series for the next three years, for the legion of fans of the Game of Thrones universe. Together, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON and A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS reveal just how expansive and richly imagined George R. R. Martin's universe continues to be. In January, I think audiences will be delighted by the inspiring underdog tale of Dunk and Egg that George and Ira Parker have captured so beautifully. And this summer, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON is set to ignite once again with some of its most epic battles yet," said Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of HBO Drama Series and Films.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms arrives on January 18, 2026, with House of the Dragon following later in the summer – both shows will be available on HBO in the US and Sky and NOW TV in the UK.

In the meantime, fill out your watchlist with our guide to the most exciting upcoming TV shows.

A new, illustrated edition of A Feast for Crows – a novel in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of books – has raised suspicions of AI artwork, but Martin's team has denied the allegations.

After pictures from the book began circulating online, fans speculated that the artwork was AI generated.

"My name is Raya Golden and I manage the art direction and licensing development here at Fevre River working closely with GRRM as his schedule will allow. But I alone am responsible for approving all the licensed art that accompanies our SOI&F book driven materials," reads a new post on Martin's Not a Blog page.

"Recently there have been accusations floating around that the Penguin Random House's illustrated edition of A Feast For Crows was produced using AI generative art," the post continues.

"To our knowledge and as presented by the artist who completed the work in question there was NO such programing used. While he is a digital multimedia artist and relies on digital programing to complete his work, he has expressed unequivocally that no AI was used, and we believe him."

The post concludes: "The official word from our office is, of course, that we DO NOT, never have and will not willingly work with A.I generative artists in any way shape or form."

Martin himself is no fan of AI. Along with other authors, Martin is suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

Next up for the Game of Thrones universe is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which hits HBO in January. Next year also brings with it House of the Dragon season 3.

You can keep up to date with our guide to the most exciting upcoming TV shows.

George R.R. Martin's on-screen universe is soon expanding again with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new Game of Thrones spin-off based on the author's Dunk and Egg novellas.

Showrunner Ira Parker recently spoke about the show at New York Comic Con (via Temple of Geek), and it sounds like he kept Martin at the forefront of his mind while he made the show.

"They say when you're writing that you should not try to please everybody, that you shouldn't write for the audience, that you should pick one person and you should write for them. And this season, season 1, I did that for George," Parker revealed. "The fact that he's happy makes me very happy as well, too."

Martin does indeed sound very happy with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, taking to his Not a Blog page in January to share praise for what he'd seen so far. "Ira [Parker, showrunner] and his team wrapped the first season months ago, and moved right on to post production," Martin wrote. "I've seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, admittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favorites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible. The rest of the cast are terrific as well. Wait until you guys meet the Laughing Storm. and Tanselle Too-Tall."

"He's only been a benefit to this show," Parker also said. "He's only been a benefit to me… It's been a delightful experience."

The author previously made headlines when he took to his page to criticize upcoming changes in House of the Dragon season 3. "And there are larger and more toxic butterflies to come, if House of the Dragon goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons 3 and 4…" he wrote, after detailing objections to the show cutting Maelor.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is coming next January 18. In the meantime, fill out your watchlist with our guide to all the upcoming TV shows of this year and beyond.

George R.R. Martin and a cohort of other authors have taken OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, to court – and, so far, they're winning.

Things have taken a positive turn for Martin and the other plaintiffs (i.e. the people suing OpenAI) because two new theories of infringement have been advanced against the tech giant. That means the plaintiffs now have three different ways of winning the case. The damages awarded for copyright infringement could reach up to $150,000.

The first argument is that using copyrighted books to train AI models counts as infringement, while a newer one relates to books being pirated from shadow libraries – some of which are used for training. The third argument is that answers generated by ChatGPT are substantially similar to the books they're trained on.

"The prior class complaints asserted a cause of action for copyright infringement and alleged that OpenAI impermissibly downloaded and reproduced plaintiffs’ books," the judge wrote (via The Hollywood Reporter) of the third claim. "The fact that many of the allegations in the prior class complaints suggested that the ultimate purpose of the reproduction was to train OpenAI’s LLMs is not dispositive."

The publication reports that, per the court, a reader could "easily conclude" that detailed summaries are "substantially similar" to Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books because they "convey the overall tone and feel of the original work by parroting the plot, characters, and themes of the original."

The next stage in the case will involve a summary judgment, where the court decides which claims will go to trial.

Meanwhile, we're next set to return to the world of Westeros in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is based on Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas and is set 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones. The show will follow the adventures of the hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his eager young squire, Egg.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on HBO on January 18, 2026. While we wait, fill out your watchlist with our picks of the other best new TV shows coming our way.

George R.R. Martin has addressed the much-delayed publication of The Winds of Winter (again), admitting that he "doesn't feel happy about it" but has "always had trouble with deadlines".

"I know there's all this controversy about Winds of Winter and how late it is, but I've always had trouble with deadlines," Martin said during an appearance at New York Comic Con (via Entertainment Weekly), "and I don't feel happy breaching contracts or missing a deadline or anything like that."

The author went on to point out that fans get unjustifiably annoyed when networks and studios buy up the rights to older works off the back of his Game of Thrones fame. "Every time that happens, and I announce it on my website, half the internet goes crazy," Martin said.

"'Why the fuck is George R.R. Martin writing this other thing when he should be writing Winds of Winter? What is he doing?' And I want to say, 'I did it in 1993, guys. Come on! It was lying in my drawer, and they wanted it, so I sold it to them!'"

The most recent installment in A Song of Ice and Fire, the series of books on which Game of Thrones is based, was A Dance With Dragons, published in 2011. The longest gap between books before that was six years.

"Yes, I do love Winds of Winter. I'm still interested in it, I'm still working on it, but honestly, I love these other things, too," Martin concluded.

Our next visit to Westeros will be back on the small screen, for new spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Based on Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas and set around a century before the events of Game of Thrones, the series will follow the unlikely adventures of a hedge knight and his young squire.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be released on HBO and HBO Max on January 18, 2026. In the meantime, check out our guide to the other best new TV shows to add to your watchlist.

The trailer for Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is here and, at first blush, this looks like a very different side to Westeros than the one we're used to seeing.

As shown in the teaser first shown at NYCC (which you can see above), Ser Duncan the Tall navigates his way through the death of his knight, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, before bumping into some of the great of the good of Westeros, including a bald-headed child nicknamed Egg. The trailer ends with a ferocious series of battles, more in line with Game of Thrones tradition.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novella series. It follows the adventures of Ser Duncan, AKA 'Dunk', a squire-turned-knight who falls in league with 'Egg', a squire who is part of the land's most powerful dynasty.

In the HBO series, Ser Duncan will be played by Peter Claffey and Egg will be played by Dexter Sol Ansell.

Despite Martin's spotty history with some adaptations of his Game of Thrones work, the author has had nothing but praise for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Earlier this year, he wrote on his personal blog, "It’s as faithful an adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for (and you all know how incredibly reasonable I am on that particular subject)."

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms hits our screens on January 18, with House of the Dragon season 3 also set for 2026.

For more, check out our guide to new TV shows, as well as all the latest on Winds of Winter.

Fans have been reminiscing about Robert Redford's final on-screen appearance after the legendary actor's death at the age of 89.

While much was made of his latter career appearances in the MCU, it was a quick cameo on AMC series Dark Winds (on which he was a producer) that served as Redford's final farewell to acting.

As you can see below, Redford plays a prisoner alongside fellow producer George R.R. Martin in the drama that follows a handful of Navajo Tribal Police. With the pair behind bars, they engage in a hard-fought game of chess, with Redford's character quipping, "George, the whole world's waiting. Make a move" – surely a sly nod to Martin's continued troubles finishing off The Winds of Winter, the latest book in The Song of Ice and Fire series. See it for yourself below.

Director Chris Eyre revealed to Vulture that the line was ad-libbed, adding that Redford "was so nice on the day" during filming of the season 3 premiere moment, which also featured Zach McClarnon's Joe Leaphorn interjecting with some much-needed chess advice.

Redford, perhaps best known for 1969's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and as the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, passed away on September 16. In the wake of his death, Hollywood greats have paid tribute – including Meryl Streep and Barbra Streisand, who described Redford as "one of the finest actors ever."

George R.R. Martin, meanwhile, is still plugging away at Winds of Winter after 13 years, recently lamenting it as the "curse of my life", though he admitted that he has "periods" where he makes progress.

It's no secret that people are desperate for George R. R. Martin to continue the Game of Thrones novels with the sixth installment The Winds of Winter. The author has been tinkering away at the book for over 15 years now, having written four chapters before HBO's hit adaptation even started airing in 2011 – but fans are still waiting on its completion.

With that, a reader took it upon themself to ask Martin for an update at Seattle WorldCon 2025, but their untactful directedness hasn't gone down well with the wider community.

As heard in a video posted to YouTube (via Screen Rant), the attendee asked whether another writer could potentially take over the series, since 76-year-old Martin is "not going to be around for much longer." They even suggested that Brandon Sanderson, another panelist, who famously penned follow-ups to Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time novels, could be a potential candidate for the job.

The question was booed in real time, with other guests coming to defend the Song of Ice and Fire scribe and the hosts quickly trying to move the conversation along. While some backed the attendee's inquisition, sympathetic fans over on Reddit condemned their "disrespectful" actions, describing the footage as "hard to watch".

Over on Twitter, people were even more explicit in their disdain, with one user claiming: "That disgusting f*** represents a good percentage of the 'readers' I know."

"Antagonizing an old man who has been dealing with mental health issues after losing a very close friend to him is absolutely insane," tweeted another. "We need to bring back throwing rocks at people."

Check out some more reactions below...

Game of Thrones is streaming now on HBO Max. For more, check out our picks of the 100 best TV shows of all time. (Spoiler alert, GOT comes in at #6).

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin has given his verdict on Andor season 2 – and it's very positive indeed.

"ANDOR was this year’s highlight, though," Martin wrote on his Not a Blog page, after giving James Gunn's Superman copious amounts of praise, too. "Far and away the best of the Star Wars spinoffs. Looked gorgeous, Diego Luna was first rate, and there was a realism and tension to the story that was sadly lacking in most of the other spinoffs. It’s nice to see someone doing science fiction right."

Andor is the grittiest and most intense of the Star Wars shows, so it's perhaps no surprise that it's the one the A Song of Ice and Fire scribe would like the best. Though, we are desperate to hear his verdict on Baby Yoda...

It's also no surprise that Andor season 2 has been nominated for multiple Emmys, though Diego Luna and Genevieve O'Reilly missed out on being recognized. "These aren't great moment-to-moment [performances]," creator Tony Gilroy said of the snubs. "These are epic, long-term character studies that they’ve done over 24 episodes. I think the ultimate victory is that these performances will be celebrated and discussed for years to come. I feel confident about that."

House of the Dragon season 2 has also broken a Game of Thrones Emmys streak, as this year is the first time that a Westerosi show hasn't been nominated for Outstanding Drama Series since Game of Thrones debuted 14 years ago.

House of the Dragon season 3 is coming next year, along with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Next up for Star Wars is The Mandalorian & Grogu, which hits the big screen in 2026, while Ahsoka season 2 is also expected next year.

You can keep up to date with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin has shared his verdict on James Gunn's Superman – and it's very positive.

"Supes and I are old friends, and this is one of the best Superman movies in a long time… maybe ever," Martin shared on his Not a Blog page. "This new Superman reminds me of the version I used to read about when I was a kid, the strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. (And yes, an innocent, of course, he's always been an immigrant. And an illegal immigrant, when you stop to think of it).

"The film looks great, and James Gunn did a great job with the casting," Martin added. "Rachel Brosnahan was terrific as Lois Lane; I'd say it's between her and Margot Kidder for Best Lois Ever. And there's no doubt whatsoever for the Best Lex. Nicholas Hoult was far and away the Best Luthor of All Time, a truly chilling villain. The kid in the cape was excellent as well. I hope he gets to play Kal-El in another dozen movies."

The kid in the cape is of course David Corenswet, who makes his debut as the Man of Steel in this movie.

The film is the first theatrical release of the DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, and it will be followed on the small screen by Peacemaker season 2 this year (and Supergirl on the big screen next year). We're expecting more Peacemaker news at Comic-Con, so stay tuned to our SDCC 2025 live-blog for updates.

As for Martin, House of the Dragon season 3 is expected next year, along with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. There is also an Elden Ring movie in the works, too, which Martin has shared his thoughts on.

Plus, in the same post, Martin praised Andor season 2 as "the year's highlight."

Superman is in theaters now. For more, check out our Superman review, or see our guide to the Superman ending explained for our spoiler-filled breakdown.

Even The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski is giving George R.R. Martin a kicking over The Winds of Winter still being worked on 15 years after writing initially began on the sixth novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

When asked at the Opole book festival (H/T Redanian Intelligence) about whether he plans to write more books in The Witcher series, Sapkowski replied, "I’ll tell you right now: I will write something else. Relax. No need to fear. And unlike George R. R. Martin, whom, by the way, I know personally, when I say I’ll write something, I will."

While the personal connection between Martin and Sapkowski hints at a slightly more tongue-in-cheek tone than it reads on paper, The Witcher author does have his own theories as to why The Winds of Winter is still stuck in a seemingly perpetual limbo – and, of course, it involves Game of Thrones overtaking the original source material.

"I totally understand him. Because if someone had pulled a stunt like that on me, filming a series based on my books, and then getting ahead of what I intended to write, I’d also be wondering whether there’s any point in writing anymore," Sapkowski said. "If it’s already been done, right? Makes no sense."

Sapkowski's next novel, Crossroad of Ravens, explores Geralt's early life at Kaer Morhen and is set for release internationally in September.

The Witcher season 4 is also set to hit Netflix at some point in the near future, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt from Henry Cavill for both its fourth and fifth seasons.

Martin, meanwhile, has recently offered an update on The Winds of Winter's progress, describing it as a "curse."

"That's the curse of my life here. There's no doubt Winds of Winter is 13 years late. I'm still working on it. I have periods where I make progress and then other things divert my attention," Martin told Time.

For more, check out everything we know so far about The Winds of Winter. Then discover the new TV shows heading our way, including a series based on Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas.

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin really isn't a fan of writers altering the source material for adaptations.

"Television and film are ultimately collaborative," he said during an event with author Joe Abercrombie. "You always have the director and the actors and of course the studio will have executives, they will give notes and all that, and you have to deal with all that, which some people do better than others.

"The hard part about collaborating is not so much them, but, I find – speaking only for myself here, not for Joe – is dealing with the other writers," he continued. "They're adapting your book or your story, and they hire someone else to do it, and there's a phrase that they empower this writer to – okay, take The Great Gatsby, but make it your own. And I don't want anyone to make The Great Gatsby their own."

He added: "I think I may be a minority in this case here that other people don't mind that and all. But I don't think in most of the cases where a Hollywood screenwriter makes something their own that they improve it. I think [in] the majority of cases it's the opposite."

You can see the remarks for yourself in the video below, starting at around the 35:19 timestamp.

Of course, this isn't the first time Martin has said something similar. In a now-deleted post on his Not a Blog page, Martin took aim against changes to his Fire and Blood book for HBO's adaptation House of the Dragon, describing a butterfly effect that would only get worse: "There are larger and more toxic butterflies to come, if House of the Dragon goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons 3 and 4…"

Martin also recently took to his page to speak directly to fans who demand he finishes The Winds of Winter, and he also shared his thoughts on the upcoming Elden Ring movie adaptation.

House of the Dragon season 3 is expected next year. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming shows left to release in 2025.

Producer and Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin has broken his silence on the Elden Ring movie and its choice of director in a new blog post.

"Here’s the latest about the ELDER RING [sic] movie that was announced a few days ago," Martin wrote on his site. "A24 is a kickass studio, and Alex Garland is a first rate director."

While he didn't offer more information, his 'current mood' based on the blog post was "hopeful." Curiously, he also linked to a three-minute video from YouTuber Zayf the Scholar titled, 'Why the Elden Ring Movie WON'T SUCK - Director Reveals His TRUE Power Level'. So, there's that.

For the un-Tarnished among you confused by George R.R. Martin's involvement in the Elden Ring movie, he famously constructed the 2022 game's lore and rich history, which director Hidetaka Miyazaki and developers FromSoftware built upon with a tale of Great Runes, Erdtrees, and Elden Rings as the player aims to take his place as the Elden Lord in The Lands Between.

As of now, very little is known about the Elden Ring movie. Annihilation and Warfare director Alex Garland is helming the project, while Heartstopper actor Kit Connor is circling as lead.

Beyond that, fans are hoping the big-screen adaptation will swerve the source material's focus on the player's Tarnished. Instead, their hopes are pinned on following the story of Vyke, a pivotal figure in the game's world, who ultimately stopped short of becoming the next Elden Lord – and was driven mad in the process.

For more on Elden Ring and the likes of The Legend of Zelda movie and the Mario sequel, check out our guide to upcoming video game movies.

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin is fully aware that you're desperate for The Winds of Winter.

It's pretty infamous by now that the next book in the Song of Ice and Fire series has seemingly been in limbo for years, with no release date on the cards.

Still, Martin continues to be a prolific creative, involved in HBO's adaptations of his works (and once calling out changes to the source material in House of the Dragon season 2) and also producing an animated movie about Hercules, an adaptation of Howard Waldrop's A Dozen Tough Jobs.

Any time Martin is revealed to be working on a new project, though, the response is usually the same question: where is The Winds of Winter?

"I know, I know. Some of you will just be pissed off by this, as you are by everything I announce here that is not about Westeros or THE WINDS OF WINTER," Martin wrote on his Not a Blog page about the A Dozen Tough Jobs adaptation. "You have given up on me, or on the book. I will never finish WINDS, If I do, I will never finish A DREAM OF SPRING. If I do, it won’t be any good. I ought to get some other writer to pinch hit [finish it] for me…

"I am going to die soon anyway, because I am so old. I lost all interest in A Song of Ice and Fire decades ago. I don't give a shit about writing any longer, I just sit around and spend my money. I edit the Wild Cards books too, but you hate Wild Cards. You may hate everything else I have ever written, the Hugo-winners and Hugo-losers, "A Song for Lya" and DYING OF THE LIGHT, "Sandkings" and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, "This Tower of Ashes" and "The Stone City," OLD MARS and OLD VENUS and ROGUES and WARRIORS and DANGEROUS WOMEN and all the other anthologies I edited with my friend Gardner Dozois, You don't care about any of those, I know. You don't care about anything but WINDS OF WINTER. You've told me so often enough).

"Thing is, I do care about them," he continued. "And I care about Westeros and WINDS as well. The Starks and Lannisters and Targaryens, Tyrion and Asha, Dany and Daenerys, the dragons and the direwolves, I care about them all. More than you can ever imagine."

Westeros will soon return to our screens with House of the Dragon season 3 and the recently delayed A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Until then, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming shows of the year for everything else that's in store.