Technology

Game Of Thrones Season 8 Sequel Exposes The Harsh Truth About The Winds Of Winter

2025-11-29 02:00
999 views
Game Of Thrones Season 8 Sequel Exposes The Harsh Truth About The Winds Of Winter

Game of Thrones season 8 sequels are reportedly in development, highlighting a sad truth about George R. R. Martin’s next book, The Winds of Winter.

Game Of Thrones Season 8 Sequel Exposes The Harsh Truth About The Winds Of Winter The Night King standing beyond the Wall in Game of Thrones The Night King standing beyond the Wall in Game of Thrones 4 By  Lewis Glazebrook Published 34 minutes ago Lewis is a Lead Writer for Screen Rant and has written for the site since 2022. This has allowed Lewis to explore a vast array of films, TV shows, books, comic books, and games from across the mainstream world of pop culture, reflecting his lifelong love of all media and typifying his experience in the world of fiction storytelling. To top this off, Lewis graduated from Northumbria University with First Class Honours in Film & TV Studies, truly exemplifying his experience in the medium. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

A sequel to Game of Thrones is in development, revealing a harsh truth about The Winds of Winter. Several Game of Thrones spin-offs have been in the works since the main show ended in 2019. House of the Dragon is the biggest, thus far, with the show's third season set to air in summer 2026.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' story is next, coming in January 2026, and is based on several short novellas by George R. R. Martin. Fire and Blood served as the basis for House of the Dragon, with the A Song of Ice and Fire book series doing the same for the original Game of Thrones.

Now, six years after Game of Thrones' finale, sequels are reportedly in development, highlighting a harsh truth about the original book series.

There Is A Chance We Get A Game Of Thrones Sequel Before The Winds Of Winter

Cersei, Jon Snow, and the A Song of Ice & Fire books Cersei, Jon Snow, and the A Song of Ice & Fire booksCustom image by Simone Ashmoore

In November 2025, George R. R. Martin confirmed Game of Thrones sequels are in the works. The author revealed that, beyond House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, several other Game of Thrones prequels are currently in the early stages of development. According to Martin, there are at least five or six being worked on.

Martin went on to say, "And yes, there's a sequel or two in the works." This news comes after a Jon Snow sequel was effectively canceled by HBO in 2024. While it is unclear whether this idea is one of the sequels Martin referenced, it is at least good to know that more adventures in Westeros beyond Game of Thrones are being planned.

However, the sad truth is that one or more of these Game of Thrones sequels may be released before the original book series is even finished. Martin has been writing the sixth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, The Winds of Winter, since 2011, following the publication of A Dance of Dragons, and that is without mentioning the planned final volume, A Dream of Spring.

Updates have been few and far between about when exactly The Winds of Winter will be finished, with Martin's time seemingly being taken up by Game of Thrones itself at first, and now its spin-offs and sequels. With even more live-action projects in the works, Game of Thrones' continuation could be released before the original story on which it is based is even finished.

The Game Of Thrones IP Is Too Big For HBO To Only Make Prequels

Tyrion armed with a crossbow in Game of Thrones Tyrion armed with a crossbow in Game of Thrones

Evidently, the world of Game of Thrones is simply too vast for upcoming spin-offs to remain prequels. Yes, there is a lot of Westerosi history explored in Martin's original series, which has served as the basis for two prequels, with five or six more in development. However, it is naive to think the stories simply stop at Game of Thrones.

Clearly, Martin thinks the same if he is developing sequels to the show. Whether these sequels are intended as giant continuations of the show on the same scale, akin to a new trilogy of Star Wars movies, for instance, or smaller-scale stories simply set after Game of Thrones remains to be seen. Regardless, Game of Thrones is too big to remain in the past.

A Game Of Thrones Sequel Coming Out Before Winds Would Feel Weird

Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen standing in a snowy field in Game of Thrones season 8 Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen standing in a snowy field in Game of Thrones season 8

Even with that truth in mind, though, a Game of Thrones sequel being released before The Winds of Winter would feel admittedly strange. Many have been eagerly anticipating The Winds of Winter to get a hint at how Martin intends to end A Song of Ice and Fire.

As everyone likely knows already, Game of Thrones' divisive ending was constructed using only minor knowledge of the final two books. This has led audiences to wait with bated breath for Martin's official ending, starting with The Winds of Winter and ending with A Dream of Spring.

If a Game of Thrones sequel, continuing beyond what will be depicted in Winds and Dream, happens first, this will feel somewhat wrong. In an ideal world, Martin's stories would have been finished, unveiling the true ending to the series, before Game of Thrones sequels were developed.

Game of Thrones Poster 615 9.1/10 ScreenRant logo 10/10

Game Of Thrones

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Action Adventure Fantasy Release Date 2011 - 2019-00-00 Showrunner David Benioff, D.B. Weiss Directors David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff Writers D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, David Benioff Franchise(s) Game of Thrones Samwell Tarly And Jon Snow In Game Of Thrones Season 1 10 Images Samwell Tarly And Jon Snow In Game Of Thrones Season 1Samwell Tarly And Jon Snow In Game Of Thrones Season 1Lena Headey as Cersei in Game of ThronesLena Headey as Cersei in Game of ThronesTyrion Finds Jaime And Cersei in the wreckage of King's Landing in Game of Thrones season 8Tyrion Finds Jaime And Cersei in the wreckage of King's Landing in Game of Thrones season 8Daenerys attacks King's Landing in Game of Thrones-1Daenerys attacks King's Landing in Game of ThronesJon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen standing in the snow in Game of ThronesJon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen standing in the snow in Game of ThronesRichard Madden as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones season 3, episode 9Ned Stark in Game of Thrones season 1Ned Stark in Game of Thrones season 1Pedro Pascal in Game of ThronesPeter Dinklage Looking Disheveled As Tyrion Lannister In Game Of Thrones Season 8Peter Dinklage Looking Disheveled As Tyrion Lannister In Game Of Thrones Season 8Daenerys Targaryen In Game Of ThronesDaenerys Targaryen In Game Of ThronesClose

Cast

See All
  • Headshot Of Kit Harington In The Louis Vuitton Menswear Fall Kit Harington Jon Snow
  • Headshot Of Isaac Hempstead Wright Isaac Hempstead Wright Brandon Bran Stark

Genres Drama, Action, Adventure, Fantasy Creator(s) David Benioff, D.B. Weiss Powered by ScreenRant logo Expand Collapse Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Thread Sign in to your ScreenRant account

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.

Your comment has not been saved

Send confirmation email

This thread is open for discussion.

Be the first to post your thoughts.

  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Feedback
Recommended Tom Holland filming Spider-Man: Brand New Day 1 day ago

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Will Not Break Two Major 4-Year MCU Records

New Wizard of Oz book 1 day ago

Wicked: For Good Has the Perfect Sequel That Rejects Oz's 1939 Film

Sydney Sweeney posing on a red carpet for Madame Web 1 day ago

Fan-Favorite Star Sydney Sweeney Suits Up As Power Girl In New DC Art

Assassins Creed UE5 Trailer Screenshot 1 day ago

Assassin's Creed's Most Controversial Project Is Officially Moving Forward

More from our brands

MovieWeb logo

'House of the Dragon' Season 3 Will Be More Action Packed Than Season 2 (Fortunately)

Collider logo

It's That Time of Year Again! How To Watch the 'Harry Potter' Movies in Order (Chronologically or by Release Date)

MovieWeb logo

Every 'Lord of the Rings' Movie and Show Coming Out After 'The War of the Rohirrim'

Collider logo

'Harry Potter' TV Series: Teaser, Plot Details, Creative Team, and Everything We Know So Far About the Max Reboot

The Winds of Winter update from George R. R. Martin.

GameRant logo

George R. R. Martin Will Never Finish The Winds of Winter (& Here's Why)

Everything George R.R. Martin Has Said About the Final 'Games of Thrones' Book

Collider logo

The Truth About the Final ‘Game of Thrones’ Book — Straight From George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin on the red carpet

Collider logo

George R.R. Martin's Latest Lawsuit Update Reveals the Status of ‘Winds of Winter’

Trending Now Sylvester Stallone's Manfredi looking angry with his hands swirling each other in Tulsa King season 3 Tulsa King Season 3 Villain Actor Recalls When He Learned Of His Finale Fate: "F--k, What A Way To Go" Boba Fett With With Helmet in Background Custom Star Waars Image Star Wars Finally Admits It Failed Boba Fett PlayStation Black Friday Sale Black Friday's Biggest Gaming Deals You Definitely Missed