George R.R. Martin Caught Flak From HBO For Giving Away ‘Game Of Thrones’ Prequel Title

HBO goes to great lengths to keep Game of Thrones details under wraps. This is a company that backs up its promises of no spoilers with drone-killing technology. But much like creepy tales that kept suburban babysitters up at night, the TV giant failed to account for problems inside the house. And so, they’re left steaming after GoT mastermind George R.R. Martin himself may have spilled some potential details about the upcoming GoT prequel. 

According to Martin’s blog, the higher-ups of Home Box Office were none too pleased with his decision to share the name of the upcoming prequel series. Martin told his fans that the series would be called The Long Night, but suggests that that may no longer be true in a new blog post. 

“HBO has informed me that the Jane Goldman pilot is not (yet) titled THE LONG NIGHT. That is certainly the title I prefer, but for the moment the pilot is still officially UNTITLED. So… mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa,” he wrote. “Elsewise, the pilot is coming along well, with casting falling into place. I could tell you more, but I am not supposed to. We also have a couple of other successor shows still in development, but I cannot tell you about those either. Sorry.” 

There have been a few bits of news about the “Age of Heroes”-set prequel series that HBO is fine with everyone knowing. For example, we know that the series will be headed up by the aforementioned Jane Goldman and that actress Naomi Watts has signed on to star in the show. Beyond that, we don’t know much and Martin isn’t telling.  

“Hush hush, it’s Hollywood, they like news to come through officially approved channels out there,” he wrote, before dropping the requisite promise that he’s still working on his long-awaited novel Winds of Winter. “I am working hard on a lot of things (yes, including WINDS), even though I am not allowed to talk about most of them.  Eventually, I hope, you’ll all be able to enjoy the fruits of my labors.”