‘House of Cards’ showrunner set to write 'Game of Thrones' movie centered around a surprise character

The news of the 'Game of Thrones' movie in development comes after the stellar prequels, 'House of the Dragon' and 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.'
Emilia Clarke in a screenshot from 'Game of Thrones' trailer (Cover Image Source: YouTube | @hbo)
Emilia Clarke in a screenshot from 'Game of Thrones' trailer (Cover Image Source: YouTube | @hbo)

For some, this news will be a soothing balm after the damp squib of a Season 8 finale of 'Game of Thrones.' Now, a 'Game of Thrones' movie is officially in the works at Warner Bros., amid the stellar prequels that have been hits with fans. 'House of Cards' showrunner and 'Andor' writer Beau Willimon has already worked on a first draft. At the time of writing, no director or cast members have been announced.

It is worth noting that 'GoT' is one of the company's bona fide projects and a moolah-maker. So, there is a possibility that Willimon's script, if approved, might see the light of day. The news broken initially by Page Six said, "Sources tell P6H that WBD’s leadership team was pumped on Willimon’s draft, and that the storyline may center on Aegon I, who spawned the Targaryen dynasty and united six of the seven kingdoms through bloody conquest about 300 years before the original 'Game of Thrones' pilot. 'All of ‘Game of Thrones' stems back to him, and you’ve never seen him on any of the shows,” says a source familiar with the project."  

Finn Bennett and Bertie Carvel join the cast as Aerion and Baelor Targaryen.
Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan in 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' (Cover image credit: HBO | YouTube)

No plot details have been confirmed, but multiple reports suggest the movie centers on Aegon I, the founder of the Targaryens. The film follows his conquering of Westeros before the events of the 'Game of Thrones' series. Aegon I never appeared on the screen, but the royal family has been the platform for the two spin-offs, 'House of the Dragon' and 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms', which just ended season 1 with a second season in the works. The latest update comes on the back of HBO's announcement of season 3 of 'House of the Dragon'. The series is set to premiere in 2026 after a two-year hiatus.

Despite the panned season 8 finale, 'Game of Thrones' has been widely regarded as one of the best period fantasy dramas on TV. The show won a whopping 59 Emmys during its epic eight-season run, with critics praising its gripping plot, production, and cast. Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus reads, "Its intricate storytelling and dark themes may overwhelm some viewers, but Game of Thrones is a transportive, well-acted, smartly written drama even non-genre fans can appreciate."

Game of Thrones (GameofThrones/Youtube)
A still from 'Game of Thrones' (GameofThrones/Youtube)

Should the movie move forward, the cast may feature new faces. With no timeline for when the film might be released, all eyes will now be on 'House of the Dragon,' and it remains to be seen whether the movie borrows from any of the prequels that mention Aegon. For now, the latest update alone will have the show's faithful up in arms.

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