theory: show will not overtake the books [BOOK SPOILERS]

[rebel to conform]

I have an idea:

What if the plan for Game of Thrones the TV series is NOT to overtake the books?

What do we know of Season 5 so far? Lots of action in Dorne. Cersei v Margaery. Tyrion's adventures in Essos. Daenerys and the dragon pit. Arya in the House of Black and White. Some stuff at the Wall. Some stuff in the Vale. That leaves out a LOT of potential material that could be saved for seasons 6 and 7. Consider how little plot was actually covered in season 4. Not that I enjoyed all that business at Craster's Keep, but what if the show is just stalling?

Schedule for the TV series:

2015: season 5

2016: season 6

2017: season 7

Schedule for the books:

2016/2017?: The Winds of Winter

Seasons 6 and 7 could be used to cover: the Greyjoys, the aftermath in Meereen (told through Barriston), Davos going to White Harbor, the Blackfish, Arya becoming faceless, Boltons moving into Winterfell, Aegon, Samwell going to Oldtown, Varys killing Pycelle, etc. These are all (presumably) integral plotlines involving major characters. This format would allow for substantial new casting each season. As an example, season 6 could cover the entire Greyjoy and Manderly subplots and season 7 could cover Aegon, Winterfell and Oldtown. Considering how AFFC and ADWD covered roughly the same time period, we could be seeing something similar where different seasons cover the same time period.

Why this would be awesome:

Obviously, little or no book spoilers. Season 7 could potentially cover early TWOW territory, like the battle of Winterfell, because TWOW will hopefully be out by then.

We would get movies. Yep, and it might be exactly what this story needs. And not just one movie (a la The Hobbit/Hunger Games/Twilight/Harry Potter) but two or three. This would give GRRM time to write ADOS to coincide with the movies, as well as provide the budget needed for all of the characters and special effects.

Am I crazy or does this seem plausible?

[rebel to conform]

(bump because I started on the second page ;) )

[Colonel Green]

Am I crazy or does this seem plausible?

No, that's not remotely plausible. It won't happen, the writers have said that won't happen, and it would completely kill the series' momentum.

[Hangover of the Morning]

That's not a theory, that's your wishful thinking that we now know with 100% certainty is not going to happen. The show will end with 7 seasons (8 at the very most) and they are going to use the exact same ending as the books.

It would be such a dickhead move from HBO to tell their subscribers, who have been paying for the service for years: "You want to know the ending, go by cinema tickets".

[rebel to conform]

How do we know that it is not going to happen with 100% certainty? It was discussed, literally, two days ago.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/18/charles-dance-on-tywin-lannister-s-s5-return-a-game-of-thrones-movie-and-sexy-peter-dinklage.html

Or, there's always the Dunk and Egg movie idea

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/game-thrones-movies-eyed-by-689629

[Hangover of the Morning]

How do we know that it is not going to happen with 100% certainty? It was discussed, literally, two days ago.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/18/charles-dance-on-tywin-lannister-s-s5-return-a-game-of-thrones-movie-and-sexy-peter-dinklage.html

Or, there's always the Dunk and Egg movie idea

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/game-thrones-movies-eyed-by-689629

Logic and because the show runners said so repeatedly. Martin gave them the ending, they don't need to wait a decade for it to be written to be able to carry on.

[sj4iy]

How do we know that it is not going to happen with 100% certainty? It was discussed, literally, two days ago.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/18/charles-dance-on-tywin-lannister-s-s5-return-a-game-of-thrones-movie-and-sexy-peter-dinklage.html

Or, there's always the Dunk and Egg movie idea

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/game-thrones-movies-eyed-by-689629

"Discussing movies" doesn't mean they plan on ending the series WITH movies. If anything, I could see a prequel done in movie form. But ending the series with it? Bad move. Not only because you would have to contract with the actors to do such a thing, but because it would take more time to develop and shoot a movie than it would to do a season of the show. All the while your 'child actors' are beginning to look middle-aged.

The series will probably only run seven seasons and end. Prequels or sequels could be done via Big Budget movies.

[rebel to conform]

Maybe he told them the ending and they said "Yeah, we can totally milk this series for a while and leave it on such a cliffhanger than movies will not only be possible but lucrative and in high public demand"?

I have a hard time thinking in absolutes, so I will hold onto the possibility that it might happen. Even if it's really, really unlikely.

[Red Raven]

The possibility is so remote it's not worth thinking about. D&D are going to do seven seasons following the main storylines of the books and then they're done. Martin already gave them the ending so there won't be any cliffhangers at the end of the TV series. Any films will be prequels or side stories.

[Lord Lannister]

Assuming everything's written... why would they release the book and the show season at the same time? That would limit the exposure and hype. Releasing one, then the other later would allow them to double dip the hype.

[oierem]

We would get movies. Yep, and it might be exactly what this story needs. And not just one movie (a la The Hobbit/Hunger Games/Twilight/Harry Potter) but two or three. This would give GRRM time to write ADOS to coincide with the movies, as well as provide the budget needed for all of the characters and special effects.

Am I crazy or does this seem plausible?

As others have said, this is just wishful thinking, since we KNOW it's not going to happen. (and maybe you should think about what Jon, Dany, Tyrion, Cersei, Jaime and other main characters should do in seasons 6 and 7 then??).

But the important part is: movies is what this story DOESN'T need. A season means 9 -10 hours of screentime (to cover each of the remaining books). A movie means 2-3 hours. Three movies is 6-9hours... to cover two books?

A movie with such a huge main cast? With so many storylines?

A movie with no beginning and that the audience needs to watch 7 seasons to understand it? Where's the profit in it? (and therefore, the budget)

A movie that can have no nudity or violence? Or is a R rated movie going to have a huge budget?

Season 7 ends in 2017. Each movie needs at least two years to make. This means ending the story in 2023. Look at the ages of the actors (and not just Sansa and Arya). Will they wiling to be playing the same role for more than ten years?

And on and on it goes.... the last thing this story needs is movies.

George R.R. Martin once said... this story cannot be adapted into movies. That's still true.

[rebel to conform]

You guys are making a lot of sense X) oh well...

[Squab]

I think it has been confirmed that some of the next season will overtake the books. Theyre already up to the bit bran is up to. I think we will get the ending via tv

[G-Stark]

As much as we'd love this to go on and on, covering every detail of the books, they just can't keep up the momentum. And I get the distinct impression some of the actors are getting bored of it all.

On the one hand I can understand they don't want to be known just for GOT and they must be fed up of the incessant attention, but the lives of the central cast have been transformed from out of work nobodies to famous millionaires with bright futures. They'd do well to remember that.

[sj4iy]

As much as we'd love this to go on and on, covering every detail of the books, they just can't keep up the momentum. And I get the distinct impression some of the actors are getting bored of it all.

On the one hand I can understand they don't want to be known just for GOT and they must be fed up of the incessant attention, but the lives of the central cast have been transformed from out of work nobodies to famous millionaires with bright futures. They'd do well to remember that.

Uh, I think they are acutely aware that GoT has made them stars. I think they are also acutely aware that they could have difficulty finding other jobs if they are typecast and want to branch out while the time is right. That is, in no way, being "ungrateful" and they shouldn't be criticized for being smart about their careers in showbusiness.

[fear2433]

I remember GRRM say, "I will not compromise the quality of the book just to make up material for the show"

That means the show WILL overtake.

And GRRM will take his time to finish the book with all its detail.

Like D&D said "The plot and relevations does not define ASOIAF, its the twists and detail that make it special"

[DannyNic]

If we were waiting for the final novel to come out instead of the penultimate one then I could see the producers stalling a little to wait. But realistically we're looking at another 7/8 years until the novels are finished, even if HBO decided to do a "flashback" series (which would be awesome) there is nowhere near enough material to cover an 8 year wait. D&D have already said they know the ending and are going forward with it regardless. It just looks like you'll have to have the ending spoilt, albeit differently from how the novels get there.

[aFeastForDragons]

It was obvious two years ago that the show would overtake the books with the speed the show was moving and the amount of side-projects Martin was dedicating himself to. There was just a slim hope that Martin would get TWOW out in 2015/2015. ADOS would be another 3-8 years after that.

Even though there is tons of surprises that the show will leave out its still going to be a bit anti-climactic reading the 6th book when we know how the 7th book ends and the general direction the characters will go in. Say for example in season 6 we see Stannis liberate Winterfell and burn Ramsey, Jon get resurrected, Dany break the Meeren siege with Drogon and a Dothraki horde it will make reading TWOW a lot less tense when we know how the story will go.

[intheswamp]

The show has already overtaken the books with a couple things. A scene that really sticks out to me in that regard was a certain kill last season; the situation and character killed were different, but it was obviously lifted right from a The Winds of Winter chapter which has already been released. This upcoming season will likely have even more scenes from Winds.

Also, the things you mentioned in the OP that could fill season 6 and 7 are either being cut or mostly adapted this season. The show will finish before the books. It is happening.

I'm getting a trollish vibe from this thread.

But realistically we're looking at another 7/8 years until the novels are finished, even if HBO decided to do a "flashback" series (which would be awesome) there is nowhere near enough material to cover an 8 year wait.

I agree a Robert's Rebellion or Dunk and Egg series would be awesome, but they'd never pause the current series to do it. It wouldn't make any sense to put a popular show with popular actors on hold and basically start a whole new series, with new actors and storylines and no guarantee of success. If a prequel happens, it would be after the current show. Also, a prequel would probably spoil the books as well, defeating its purpose as a stopgap.

[Squab]

If we were waiting for the final novel to come out instead of the penultimate one then I could see the producers stalling a little to wait. But realistically we're looking at another 7/8 years until the novels are finished, even if HBO decided to do a "flashback" series (which would be awesome) there is nowhere near enough material to cover an 8 year wait. D&D have already said they know the ending and are going forward with it regardless. It just looks like you'll have to have the ending spoilt, albeit differently from how the novels get there.

What makes you think 7/8 years is likely?

Im just glad they got someone willing to finish what he started and its not brandon sanderson this time. TV as the format is a bit disappointing but i'd be happy with anything now.