HBO Pilot Fills More Thrones

Thanks for continuing to blog about this, James. It’s nice to see members of the media just as enthusiastic about this great project as us rabid fans. I’ve been a fan of the book series since the beginning (mid-1990s!) and am almost anticipating this TV series more than the next book. Yeah, weird, right?

Anyway, I’ve been in mourning ever since Rome went off the air, and now I may get to see something on that level but based on my favorite books. HBO, I think I love you again…

The casting so far has been fantastic, and these latest additions are no exception.

Keep up the good work in helping get the word out! I hope HBO knows how much excitement there is around this project. I know at least half a dozen friends that will be adding it to their cable package the instant Thrones is added to the lineup…

Thanks for the updates James. I think the casting looks really good so far, but am curious who they’ll get for Cersei. Won’t she have to look like the New Amsterdam dude? Also, unrelated to TV, but I’m curious, have you finished the first four books yet? As excited as I am to see the HBO pilot (and series hopefully) I really wish GRRM would get back to work on book 5! Hello, I’m dying here!

I’m most of the way through the fourth book. As for Cersei… shows cast brothers and sisters all the time, and I think it would be a mistake to expect (or want) a literal rendering of every description in the book. TV and movie adaptations are just that–adaptations–not illustrations. They are allowed to differ, and in fact should differ if they are to be any good.

I’ve read fans already bash the casting of Daenerys based solely on the actress’ head shot. Dudes: no actress they cast is literally going to be “the most beautiful woman in the world.” (Also, *no one actually has violet eyes.*) Accept it. Much more important, I think, to cast good actors who can plausibly bring the characters to life.

I’m curious what you thought of book 4. Being totally honest, it feels to me more padded than the first three, with a certain amount of shaggy-dog tales and subplots that either dead end or could have been condensed. And while GRRM’s realism is refreshing in fantasy, the books’ bleakness becomes predictable at times. (Look again at the prologue of book 4 and tell me if you did not see way ahead of time what was going to happen to Pate.) Still very eager for book 5, though.

Yeah but Cersei and Jaime are supposed to be twins and they make so much throughout the book about how alike they look. So they better at least be similar looking! :)

As for the predictability of the books – sure you can see some of it coming a mile away. But in contrast, I like how, kind of like on Lost, no one really is safe. He’s killing main characters left and right, which adds a whole level of interesting, IMO. I am just curious if he really knows where he’s going with these books since he said book 5 would be out in like 05 or 06, yet here we are in 09 and still no book 5. And apparently there’s a 6th and 7th to come afterwards. I really hope these breaks between books don’t continue, or I’ll be hard pressed to stay with it.

James, have you heard any rumblings from HBO sources about their thoughts on the pilot progress, casting, etc? Just curious.

As for book four, it’s a letdown from Martin’s previous three. It’s essentially half a book, and it feels that way. And yet for being only about half the characters, it also seems like a whole lot of filler. Sadly, I think Martin’s run out of inspiration and energy. The fact that his writing pace has slowed to a complete and utter crawl is a testament to that. Of course, don’t bring that up to him. He’s very testy!

Still, it’s a great series and will make for fabulous teleivision. I’m just not sure the books will ever all be finished. It’s simply grown too big. Would it be unheard of for the “series” to be finished in TV form and not book? If HBO carries this for several years, they will eventually pass the books. It seems like it would be easier to finish the series in screenplay form after that (Martin was a TV writer for quite some time). Hmm.

I’d rather read the books, but I’ll be happy just to see the series concluded any way possible. I need confirmation that R+L=J!

1. HBO is very aware of the buzz and seems to consider this series a big priority. Beyond that I won’t speculate. Until it’s picked up, there are no guarantees.

2. I wouldn’t assume that just because it was 5 yrs bw book 3 and 4, that the final books will need the same amount of time. Hell, maybe the series will give him more incentive/pressure. TV deadlines less forgiving than books, and he knows that.

3. That said, why not make the series first, then the books? There’s no reason that the book-then-TV order should be sacred. GRRM was a TV writer, and is writing for the series.

[...] I don’t usually cover “news” about various castings or upcoming shows, but I, like James Poniewozik, feel this deserves some special attention, and as a result look forward to more coverage in the [...]