George R.R. Martin Unveils Details of Another Canceled Game of Thrones Television Series

Essential Insights

According to author George R.R. Martin, HBO discontinued a Game of Thrones spin-off set in Braavos several years ago.
Braavos, a significant Free City in the Game of Thrones universe, is known for being the dwelling of the Faceless Men and the Iron Bank, holding rich yet untapped lore.
Although several Game of Thrones spin-offs have been proposed, with some like House of the Dragon successfully airing, others have been canceled.

Game of Thrones emerged as a groundbreaking series, captivating audiences in an unprecedented manner. Given this immense popularity, it’s not surprising that George R.R. Martin’s intricate fantasy realm has been explored for potential spin-offs, with several series currently in development at HBO. Nevertheless, not all of these projects reached the production stage.

Set in Martin’s elaborate fictional universe of Westeros, Game of Thrones spans an array of diverse cultures and sprawling locations. Most of the narrative unfolds within the seven kingdoms, frequently revolving around iconic sites such as Winterfell, King’s Landing, the Vale, and Dragonstone. Occasionally, Martin transports the audience across the narrow sea to the Free Cities, where characters like Daenerys Targaryen journey through vibrant locales like Qarth and Meereen before heading back to Westeros. While many aspects of Westeros remain largely unexplored on screen, there were ambitions to delve into at least one of these regions on television.

Another Abandoned Game of Thrones Spin-off Uncovered

Author George R.R. Martin recently shared insights regarding his fictional setting of Braavos in his latest blog entry. Contrary to popular belief that its inspiration stems from Venice, Martin clarified that Braavos is a blend of various locations, including Amsterdam. Most notably, he revealed the existence of a Game of Thrones spin-off that was planned to be set in Braavos, which HBO had in its development pipeline but eventually chose to “shelve”a few years back. While Martin expressed his desire to revisit this storyline, he indicated that he would first complete his upcoming novel, Winds of Winter.

“One of these days I need to write that story about Braavos we were developing for HBO. They shelved that one a couple of years back, alas, but that does not mean I won’t go back to it… after ‘Winds of Winter’ is done, of course.”

Braavos, one of the distinguished Free Cities in Martin’s universe, features prominently throughout Game of Thrones. It is home to the enigmatic Faceless Man, Jaqen H’ghar, and the House of Black and White, visited by Arya Stark during Season 5 of the series. Additionally, it houses the Iron Bank of Braavos, the most potent financial establishment in the game. Another notable character linked to Braavos is Syrio Forel, Arya’s fencing instructor from Season 1.

Braavos_House_of_Black_and_White Cropped

While Martin did not disclose specific plot details regarding the Braavos series, Game of Thrones left numerous unanswered questions about this Free City. Arya’s introduction to the world of the Faceless Men in Season 5 raised many intriguing inquiries that are yet to be fully explored. A potential series diving into their origins could have been highly captivating, but for now, it appears to remain an unsolved mystery.

Since the conclusion of the original series, HBO has collaborated with Martin on numerous spin-off ideas within the Game of Thrones realm. While some have successfully aired, such as the Targaryen prequel House of the Dragon, others, like Bloodmoon—which would have explored the origins of the White Walkers—only reached the pilot phase before cancellation.

It looks as though a spin-off centered on Braavos will not materialize on HBO. Nevertheless, if Martin follows through with his plans to write the Braavos narrative as he envisions, there may be potential for the network to reconsider in the future.

Source