Famed author George R.R. Martin brings exciting news for Game of Thrones devotees.
Princess Nymeria’s adventurous saga, originally titled Ten Thousand Ships, which was once dismissed, is now resurfacing in the development stage.
This resurrection involves Eboni Booth, a Pulitzer Prize winner as of May, recognized for her play Primary Trust, taking on the role of the show’s writer.
Read ahead for more information…
“Booth is a hugely gifted young playwright, a sheer delight to collaborate with. In the periods when she isn’t penning and delivering her award-winning plays, both on Broadway and off, she’s been busy in my stead and for HBO, crafting a fresh pilot for Ten Thousand Ships, a Game of Thrones spinoff about Nymeria and the Rhoynar,” Martin expressed in his blog.
“Everyone involved is brimming with excitement about this one… although we’re scratching our heads on the logistics of affording 10,000 ships, 300 dragons, and those colossal turtles.”
The narrative outline, as provided by THR: “The series spans a timeline 1,000 years prior to Game of Thrones, unraveling the chronicle of warrior queen Princess Nymeria — progenitor of the kingdom of Dorne — and her followers, the surviving Rhoynars who fled from Essos to Dorne after their defeat to the dragon-wielding Valyrians.”
The concept of the Ten Thousand Ships prequel originally came up among five prequel pitches commissioned by HBO, each with different writers at the helm.
Previously, Brian Helgeland had been involved with the project and shared with Inverse that “it was envisioned akin to Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad films combined with The Odyssey… It developed wonderfully, but it seems the timeframe of my adaptation was deemed too remote from the foundational events of the original series. Hence, its non-advancement, but remember, nothing is ever truly gone.”
“My screenplay drew inspiration from Queen Nymeria and a brief educational passage about her in a Westerosi compendium. Essentally, it narrates a story akin to Moses, only replacing him with Nymeria. Her realm falls into ruin, and her people take to the sea, thus the title Ten Thousand Ships… As they embark on finding a new homeland much like the Israelites escaping Egypt, she stands at the helm, desperately trying to keep everyone united, whilst their journey takes them across a mythical Mediterranean, in search of a place to call their own. Their existence is nomadic, spent aboard a sprawling raft city, a massive aquatic commune,” he unfolded.
An additional bulletin on another prequel series marching forward at HBO has also been made available.
FAQ – Ten Thousand Ships & Game of Thrones Prequels
- What is ‘Ten Thousand Ships’ about?
- ‘Ten Thousand Ships’ is a prequel to ‘Game of Thrones’ set 1,000 years before the original series, focusing on the journey of Princess Nymeria and the Rhoynars as they search for a new home after their defeat by the Valyrians.
- Who is involved in the revival of ‘Ten Thousand Ships’?
- The series is now being developed with writer Eboni Booth, who has won a Pulitzer Prize for her play ‘Primary Trust.’
- Has HBO officially greenlighted ‘Ten Thousand Ships’?
- As of the latest update from George R.R. Martin, the prequel is in development, but there has been no official announcement about a series order from HBO.
- Why was the original ‘Ten Thousand Ships’ project scrapped?
- According to writer Brian Helgeland, the project’s setting may have been too far removed from the events of the original ‘Game of Thrones’ series, leading to its initial dismissal.
- Are there other ‘Game of Thrones’ prequels in the works?
- Yes, along with ‘Ten Thousand Ships,’ HBO is progressing with another prequel series. Further details on this and other potential series have yet to be revealed.