Will the HBO series over-take the books ;)

[Scooter]

It occurrs to me that at the rate GRRM is writing, and with the continual post-ponement of deadlines, it might be possible for the HBO series to start production on ADWD before GRRM even publishes it.

I'm not really being serious here, but it is amusing.

 

[biodroid]

If they are true to the books and follow it as close as possible then I don't think so. Plus each season is about 20 weeks long so by the time the 4th season gets aired the rest of the books should be written and that will be another few years before the rest of the seasons get shown. Lets hope they don't cancel it prematurely because the networks like to pull the plug on good tv shows and keep poor ones running.

 

[Scooter]

If they are true to the books and follow it as close as possible then I don't think so. Plus each season is about 20 weeks long so by the time the 4th season gets aired the rest of the books should be written and that will be another few years before the rest of the seasons get shown. Lets hope they don't cancel it prematurely because the networks like to pull the plug on good tv shows and keep poor ones running.

How many seasons are they spending per book?

It probably will be cancelled before the end. Why keep making ASOI&F when you can make 3 crap reality shows for the same price.

 

[Werthead]

Does HBO even make reality shows?

One season per book, except that ASoS and ADWD will likely need 2 seasons each due to their lengths (3 seasons for the combined AFFC-ADWD, perhaps). So that's four seasons to get to the end of ASoS, seven to get to the end of ADWD. So GRRM needs to get ADWD out by 2015 and TWoW by 2018.

Doable, even at the current pace. However, if the current pace continues, there may be a problem with Book 7, since GRRM won't be half done with it before HBO move onto its events.

 

[The Imp]

How many seasons are they spending per book?

It probably will be cancelled before the end. Why keep making ASOI&F when you can make 3 crap reality shows for the same price.

HBO doesn't produce crap reality shows. They do produce the best stuff that's been considered among the best, if not the best, TV that's ever been shown. Based on the popularity of the books, the history of HBO's production quality, and the early looks we've gotten at the quality of GOT, this show is going to be huge for them. I don't see it getting cancelled after a couple of seasons.

As for your question. Yes, what you suggest is possible. I'm not going to try and predict GRRM writing timelines, and there's really no way of knowing what the HBO production schedule will look like. I could see them putting the show into hiatus (See The Sopranos) to give GRRM time to catch up. I could even see a situation where the final season is produced before the last book is published, or even finished, depending on how popular the series is and how much GRRM might earn by doing so, factoring in a bribe from HBO vs lost book sales.

 

[Rane Longfox]

It depends how successful the show is, I imagine. If it gets a big enough audience, I'm sure they will be willing to delay later seasons some if GRRM needs to catch up. If the viewer numbers are low though... chop chop

 

[Scooter]

I don't know much about HBO, but it's encouraging to hear they don't produce crap. I'm from New Zealand and we don't have your networks. We have local ones that each buy shows from all over the place - mainly from any UK, USA or Australian network. We have some of our own shows, but I guess being such a small country most of our TV is foreign.

Like the rest of you, I hope AGOT doesn't get cancelled.

I'm assuming HBO aren't retards like Fox who cancel shows like Firefly, a show which was not only incredible but ultimately garnered outstanding popularity.

Hmmm one season per book, two for ASOS. Season 5 is going to be boring... I wonder if they'll splice AFFC and ADWD together for the series. Ignoring major characters for a year of tv would be even weirder and more annoying than it was in the AFFC.

 

[The Imp]

I don't know much about HBO, but it's encouraging to hear they don't produce crap. I'm from New Zealand and we don't have your networks. We have local ones that each buy shows from all over the place - mainly from any UK, USA or Australia network. We have some of our own shows, but I guess being such a small country most of our TV is foreign.

Like the rest of you, I hope AGOT doesn't get cancelled.

I'm assuming HBO aren't retards like Fox who cancel shows like Firefly, a show which was not only incredible but ultimately garnered outstanding popularity.

If you want to see some GREAT television, watch one of these HBO series

The Sopranos- considered one of the best shows ever on TV

The Wire- also considered one of the best shows ever on TV

Boardwalk Empire- just one season produced so far, simply amazing. might end up being better than the Sopranos

Oz- you won't even steal a paper clip from work after watching this. WHo would think a show where the "heros" are spychopathic sociopaths could be good

True Blood- current show. I'm not big on vampire stories, but this one is great

6 Feet Under- I haven't seen this one yet, but many friends whose judgement I trust say it's teriffic

Deadwood just started watching this one. Halfway into the first season. I'm totally hooked. It was cancelled after 3 seasons though.

All of these should be available on DVD, except for Boardwalk Empire, which may not have been released yet

 

[BaDHaBiTt]

To be quite honest, there is a lot of material in the books which can be effectively cut from the tv show.

 

[Lofwyr]

Imp...you really need to watch Carnivale. It pains me every time you throw up an HBO "must watch" list and it is notably absent when it should grace the very top of the list!

 

[Tragedy]

I estimate SoS would be the best way to end the series. The show is named "Game of Thrones" so I think it would be appropriate, seeing as alot of what was going on came to a conclusion at SoS.

 

[KaptariMind]

Huge fan of HBO shows, so I'm stoked. I'm sure they'll do an amazing job. Rome has been my favorite of theirs thus far—they just did everything on such a grand scale—so I'm excited to see how they handle GRRM's world. Looks awesome so far.

 

[The Imp]

Imp...you really need to watch Carnivale. It pains me every time you throw up an HBO "must watch" list and it is notably absent when it should grace the very top of the list!

I'll get on that right after Deadwood

and I still need to catch up on Dexter

 

[NightStalker]

As well as Scooter I don't know anything really about HBO. I'm from the UK :L though I have watched some True Blood and, admittedly, it's awesome.
As for Firefly Scooter, I loved it and wished they hadn't cancelled, it was epic. But HBO looks pretty serious, and I reckon they can wait for GRRM to finish because if they don't then the end will be rubbish because it won't make sense...Books first

 

[NightStalker]

If you want to see some GREAT television, watch one of these HBO series

The Sopranos- considered one of the best shows ever on TV

The Wire- also considered one of the best shows ever on TV

Boardwalk Empire- just one season produced so far, simply amazing. might end up being better than the Sopranos

Oz- you won't even steal a paper clip from work after watching this. WHo would think a show where the "heros" are spychopathic sociopaths could be good

True Blood- current show. I'm not big on vampire stories, but this one is great

6 Feet Under- I haven't seen this one yet, but many friends whose judgement I trust say it's teriffic

Deadwood just started watching this one. Halfway into the first season. I'm totally hooked. It was cancelled after 3 seasons though.

All of these should be available on DVD, except for Boardwalk Empire, which may not have been released yet

If only I'd had that list the other week... I was ill and bored stiff.. I'll keep it stored for next time I have too much time on my hands and nothing to watch

 

[viZion]

Does HBO even make reality shows?

One season per book, except that ASoS and ADWD will likely need 2 seasons each due to their lengths (3 seasons for the combined AFFC-ADWD, perhaps). So that's four seasons to get to the end of ASoS, seven to get to the end of ADWD. So GRRM needs to get ADWD out by 2015 and TWoW by 2018.

Doable, even at the current pace. However, if the current pace continues, there may be a problem with Book 7, since GRRM won't be half done with it before HBO move onto its events.

This is all assuming that the series follows the books pretty much exactly. Why does everyone assume this when TV and movies are known for taking vast liberties with book adaptations? They are going to cut plenty of stuff, gloss over some stuff, and change some stuff. Fanboys will scream and go into nerd rage while the rest of America doesn't notice or care. That's how it usually goes. Why would this series be any different? Because GRRM is involved? He worked in the TV industry so I'm sure he knows how this works. Seriously though, am I missing something?

 

[The Imp]

This is all assuming that the series follows the books pretty much exactly. Why does everyone assume this when TV and movies are known for taking vast liberties with book adaptations? They are going to cut plenty of stuff, gloss over some stuff, and change some stuff. Fanboys will scream and go into nerd rage while the rest of America doesn't notice or care. That's how it usually goes. Why would this series be any different? Because GRRM is involved? He worked in the TV industry so I'm sure he knows how this works. Seriously though, am I missing something?

Maybe a better question is, why would you go in the direction of major plot changes without having any evidence of it?


I think what you're missing is that HBO just doesn't screw things up, and they're being handed high quality material. Also, as you mentioned, GRRM is involved. Why would they want ruin what has been a wildly successful series of books by dramatically changing the story?


I agree that things will be omitted, but I think the challenge will be to keep the story intact while leaving out certain parts. Brienne's POV post Jaime could easily be omitted. Large chunks of Samwell's.

Until proven other wise though, I'm going to have faith in HBO staying close to the story as told in the books.

 

[viZion]

I think what you're missing is that HBO just doesn't screw things up, and they're being handed high quality material. Also, as you mentioned, GRRM is involved. Why would they want ruin what has been a wildly successful series of books by dramatically changing the story?

I was thinking more along the lines of how Lord of the Rings was changed in the movies. It was certainly enough to make the fanboys gnash their teeth with rage. I don't know, I think it's better to expect *less* from Hollywood and then be pleasantly surprised when they give you more. Just saying, don't be surprised if things don't happen quite like they do in the books. And I guess you're saying not to be surprised if things do happen quite like they do in the books. To be honest, I hope you're right.

 

[Rane Longfox]

I was thinking more along the lines of how Lord of the Rings was changed in the movies. It was certainly enough to make the fanboys gnash their teeth with rage. I don't know, I think it's better to expect *less* from Hollywood and then be pleasantly surprised when they give you more. Just saying, don't be surprised if things don't happen quite like they do in the books. And I guess you're saying not to be surprised if things do happen quite like they do in the books. To be honest, I hope you're right.

The difference being, LotR was trying to fit each book into 3-ish hours of screentime. HBO will be fitting one book into closer to 20 hours... they'll be cutting a lot less than Peter Jackson ever had to

 

[The Imp]

I was thinking more along the lines of how Lord of the Rings was changed in the movies. It was certainly enough to make the fanboys gnash their teeth with rage. I don't know, I think it's better to expect *less* from Hollywood and then be pleasantly surprised when they give you more. Just saying, don't be surprised if things don't happen quite like they do in the books. And I guess you're saying not to be surprised if things do happen quite like they do in the books. To be honest, I hope you're right.

I think things might have unfolded differently if JRRT was alive and active in the production of the movies. Additionally, I think you might be underestimating how much control GRRM has over HBO. He's already demonstrated that he wanted to be part of set location selection, casting, and writing. I don't know it for a fact, but I'm guessing that he has a deal with them as to him being able to veto plot changes he doesn't like. Maybe Wert can enlighten us on this subject.

Also, not to beat a dead horse, but, HBO is really smart and really good. They'll also have a lot more screen time to work with than Jackson did. GOT season 1 will essentially be a 10 hour movie. Later seasons will be longer. I suspect that many changes they make will be ones that are needed to explain events. I'm sure there will be lots of dialog in the series that serves to explain things that were described or spoken of in the books.

We'll find out soon enough. Just a tad more than 2 months to the first show