GAME OF THRONES Prequel HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Gets Series Order from HBO

When you prequel HBO's Game of Thrones, you win or you die.

Deadline has word that after deciding to not go forward with the Game of Thrones prequel starring Naomi Watts, HBO has given a straight-to-series order for House of the Dragon, another prequel based on George R.R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood.

Announced at WarnerMedia’s HBO Max investors presentation, HBO has ordered ten episodes for House of the Dragon, which is set 300 years before Game of Thrones and tells the story of House Targaryen.

Game of Thrones veteran Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal will serve as showrunners and executive producers, along with Game of Thrones co-executive producer Martin and Vince Gerardis,  Sapochnik will direct the pilot and additional episodes.

HBO Programming President Casey Bloys remarked, "The Game of Thrones universe is so rich with stories.  We look forward to exploring the origins of House Targaryen and the earlier days of Westeros along with Miguel, Ryan and George."

According to the article, House of the Dragon was one of four Game of Thrones spinoffs in the works at various stages for HBO.  Martin and Condal have been working on the project since fall 2018, using material originally explored by Bryan Cogman in one of five Game of Thrones prequel scripts commissioned by HBO two years ago.

Fire & Blood, published in November 2018, is the first of a two-book series detailing the history of House Targaryen.  The second is currently expected within the next year or so, although Martin is notorious for delays in his A Song of Ice and Fire series.