What is happening with the Game of Thrones spin-offs?

The series that started it all may have come to a controversial close in 2019 but our time in Westeros is far from over, with multiple Game of Thrones spin-offs in various stages of development — and some already gracing screens.

While one spin-off would usually be enough for most successful TV series, the rich depth of author George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world is enough to generate countless story arcs.

His Seven Kingdom-based back catalogue is full of vicious kings, depraved villains, fire-breathing dragons and just a few figures brave enough to try and stay noble amid a perverse and depraved world.

The characters who share these traits will take Martin’s universe forward on the small screen — but what stories can we expect to see and when will they arrive?

Read on to discover the status of every Game of Thrones spin-off currently in the works.

House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon was the first Game of Thrones spin-off series to be released and took us back in time 200 years before the events of the main series.

Here, we’re introduced to a world where House Targaryen is riding high but its demise is looming and by the time this show comes to a close, we’ll have seen its downfall first-hand.

At its core are Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best), two half-siblings vying for the crown. In season one, we follow their respective journeys, with the latter narrowly missing out on her chance to reign.

By that season’s end, war between Rhaenyra and Rhaenys was brewing and in season two — which is now airing on Sky Atlantic and NOW — we’re set to see its deadly and fiery fallout. A third season is already in the works.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is next up on the Game of Thrones spin-off slate.

Based on Martin's series of novellas entitled Tales of Dunk and Egg, it follows a warrior and his squire as they wander Westeros around 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones and 100 years after House of the Dragon.

Peter Claffey will play the show’s hero, Ser Duncan The Tall, with Dexter Sol Ansell playing his young Squire Egg. According to reports, the show will bring them into contact with various members of the Targaryen clan who still hold the Iron Throne. It continues to explain that “great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.”

The show began filming in early 2024 in Belfast using the same locations that were used in Game of Thrones — but a release date has not yet been unveiled.

Snow

Rumours of a Game of Thrones spin-off with Kit Harington's series fave Jon Snow at its centre emerged in 2022 and shortly after, Harrington's Targaryen co-star, Emilia Clarke, confirmed its existence during an interview with BBC News.

According to reports, the show was based on an idea that was generated by Harrington himself and may have followed his life in exile as he wanders the wild world beyond the Wall.

Franchise mastermind Martin then confirmed that the project was indeed in the works writing on his blog that he'd even met with Harrington and worked with his team of writers on a potential storyline.

However, before further progress could be made, Harrington seemingly put the show on indefinite hold after telling a journalist that it was no longer in development. The reason? They failed to find the right way into the project, apparently.

At the time of writing, Snow is currently still frozen in limbo.

Ten Thousand Ships

A Game of Thrones spin-off once thought dead in the water was recently revived thanks to Martin, who confirmed that Ten Thousand Ships — a series that chronicles the life and times of Princess Nymeria, was back in the works.

Mentioned in House of the Dragon but not yet seen on screen, Nymeria was the Queen of Rhoynar and has been described as one of Westeros’ most fearless warriors. Initial reports had L.A Confidential scribe Brian Helgel working on the project. He told The Hollywood Reporter that his take was like a mixture of Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad and The Odyssey.

“Essentially, it was the story of Moses but swapping him out for Nymeria. Her country gets ruined and her people are forced to live on the water, which is why the show was called Ten Thousand Ships,” he explained.

After that, things went quiet until Martin revealed in early 2024 that Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Eboni Booth had been recruited to work on the show.

“She has been kept busy by me and HBO, working on a new pilot for Ten Thousand Ships, a Game of Thrones spinoff about Nymeria and the Rhoynar,” explained Martin. “We’re all very excited about this one … though we’re still trying to figure out how we’re going to pay for 10,000 ships, 300 dragons and those giant turtles.”

As it stands, this one is still in early development.

The Sea Snake / Nine Voyages

News of the project known as The Sea Snake or simply Nine Voyages was first made public by HBO back in 2021, when the idea was to put together a live-action series based around Corlys Velaryon.

A character played by actor Steve Toussaint in House of the Dragon, in Martin's literary world, Valaryon has a wide-ranging history as a seafaring warrior.

Shortly afterwards, Martin revealed that the plan was for The Sea Snake to become an animated series with The Mentalist mastermind Bruno Heller at its helm.

Considering this is a prequel, it’s unclear whether Toussaint would return to voice the character but so far, no official announcement has been made.

At the time of writing, The Sea Snake / Nine Voyages is still in early pre-production.

Bloodmoon

Here’s an interesting one: Bloodmoon was first announced a few years ago and actually made it in front of cameras, with Hollywood star Naomi Watts leading the way and tens of millions of dollars reported to have been thrown at its lavish production.

It was a prequel story that would’ve taken viewers through the war between the White Walkers and the various people of the Seven Kingdoms. The series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour,” read its official description, “and only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.”

Despite a pilot being shot, the project was subsequently canned with HBO CEO Casey Bloys explaining that while there was nothing necessarily wrong with the show, it just “required a lot more invention.”

No movement has been made to resurrect Bloodmoon, with HBO pumping its energy into House of the Dragon instead.

The Golden Empire

Martin confirmed the existence of The Golden Empire (and its working title) during a blog post published in 2022, revealing that the spin-off was one of a handful of shows that were opting for animation over live-action.

“I am not allowed to talk about most of what’s happening, except to say that things are moving very fast, and I love love love some of the concept art I am seeing,” he said. “The news leaked several months ago that one of the animated shows would be set in Yi Ti. That’s true. Our working title is The Golden Empire, and we have a great young writer on that one too, and I think the art and animation is just going to be beautiful. I would tell you more if I could. I don’t think I can say a word about the other animated shows. Not yet.”

Since then, movement on its development has been patchy, with no concrete news about its production making its way online. It is believed that there are two animated Game of Thrones spin-offs actively in the works — but we still don’t know if The Golden Empire is one of them.

Flea Bottom

Flea Bottom would’ve taken viewers into a King’s Landing slum, a place where future key players like Ser Davos Seaworth and Gentry Baratheon once called home.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, this one was never officially confirmed by HBO and was still very much in the early stages of development.

It didn’t get a chance to grow much, with the channel announcing in summer 2021 that it was no longer moving forward with the project.

At the time of writing, nothing has changed in the world of Flea Bottom.

Robert’s Rebellion

Announced in 2021 but now presumed to be scrapped, Robert’s Rebellion would’ve told yet another prequel story that helps to set up key events that play a big part in Game of Thrones.

It would’ve chronicled a long war led by Robert Baratheon. The goal? To ultimately overthrow the Mad King, Aerys Targaryen. Eddard Stark and Jon Arryn would’ve joined Baratheon on his quest alongside flashbacks to a young Ned Stark — and by the time all was said and done, we would’ve seen how a young Danerys found her way across the Narrow Sea.

Sadly, all this has yet to materialise and as of 2024, we’re not sure if it ever will.

House of the Dragon season 2 is airing on Sky Atlantic and NOW