In case you missed it a few days ago, big news in the world of Westeros: the Game of Thrones TV show will go ahead even if the books from which it draws its material aren’t complete. HBO will break new ground and long-time book fans will have to watch the show to find out what happens.
Speaking to Television Critics Association, reported by TVLine, HBO programming boss Michael Lombardo said that there will be a point in the near future where the show will overtake the books: “certainly after next year we’ll have to figure it out.”
The upcoming fifth season of the show, which is in the beginning of filming across Ireland, Croatia and Iceland at the moment, is being mapped out carefully with longtime series author George R. R. Martin — whose The Winds Of Winter is either somewhere close to completion or nowhere near ready, depending on who you speak to. Into the sixth season and beyond, though, HBO will be on its own in finding inspiration — GRRM will play a pivotal role in guiding the plot and production but the nuance of the storyline will be up to showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff.
“We’re not off on our own in respect to at least next season. Obviously George is an integral part of the creative team, so next season every move is being choreographed very closely with him. Certainly after next year we’ll have to figure it out with George. The book’s not finished at this point, but we’re in conversations with him. We’re not concerned about it.”
[TVLine]