George R. R. Martin Talks Writers' Strike & Upcoming Projects

Entertainment

| LAST UPDATE 07/26/2023

By Amelie Durham
George Martine House Dragons
Angela Weiss / Contributor via Getty Images

George R.R. Martin, the acclaimed author of A Song of Ice and Fire series, which served as the basis for the hit HBO show Game of Thrones, has been rather vocal about his perspective on the recent WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike. He sees this labor action as one of the most significant of his lifetime and fears it could be protracted and acrimonious.

Amidst this turmoil, Martin's contract with HBO was put on hold starting June 1. But that doesn't mean he's idle! On the contrary, he's using this time to advocate not only for prominent writers and producers but also for those who are at the beginning of their careers in the industry. He's standing up for entry-level writers, story editors, and even aspiring actors, reminding us all that every big name in Hollywood once started from the bottom. Despite the strike, work on the much-anticipated House of the Dragon Season 2 has not been entirely halted. The scripts were completed before the strike began, meaning no new writing has taken place since then. However, filming has proceeded in London due to the actors being members of the British union, Equity. This union does not allow its members to stage a sympathy strike, thus enabling production to continue.

House Dragons fantasy series
House of the Dragon (2022) HBO via IMDb
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In addition to this, Martin has been investing his creativity into The Iron Throne stage play. He seems quite enthusiastic about the project, stating that the scripts are shaping up nicely. He's even hinted at the possibility of bringing the production to London's prestigious West End theater district. And let's not forget about Winds of Winter, the next installment in the Game of Thrones series. Fans will be relieved to hear that Martin is dedicating almost every day to this book, making steady progress. While the pace might not be as rapid as we'd all like, the important thing is that he's moving forward.

So there you have it - an inside look into the busy life of George R.R. Martin. Despite the hurdles, he continues to push forward, creating captivating narratives and intricate worlds for all of us to enjoy.

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