There's a GAME OF THRONES Broadway Stage Play in Development and Here Are the Details
The Game of Thrones franchise is headed to Broadway! George R.R. Martin has created a story for a stage play that will feature some iconic characters from the stories. Martin is working alongside award-winning playwright Duncan MacMillan (1984) and acclaimed director Dominic Cooke (The Courier).
It’s explained that the production includes “a particularly unique story element that should be a huge draw for fans” as it will be the first new project to bring back several of the familiar and beloved Game of Thrones characters. The story for the play is set during The Great Tourney at Harrenhal, which is a contest that took place just 16 years before the events in Game of Thrones. The Great Tourney was held over 10 days and was considered the biggest competition event in Westeros history, with tournaments of jousting, archery and more.
The official description for the play reads:
“The play will for the first time take audiences deeper behind the scenes of a landmark event that previously was shrouded in mystery. Featuring many of the most iconic and well-known characters from the series, the production will boast a story centered around love, vengeance, madness and the dangers of dealing in prophecy, in the process revealing secrets and lies that have only been hinted at until now.”
There’s no confirmation of what characters will be involved, but according to Martin’s previously released books, some of the characters who attended the event include “a young, shy Ned Stark, his rebellious sister Lyanna, cocky teenage Jaime Lannister, powerful Lord Robert Baratheon, lovestruck Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, dashing Prince Oberyn Martell and noble knight Ser Barristan Selmy.” Some other characters who might join in are Cersei Lannister, Tywin Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Littlefinger and Varys.
At the end of the event, Prince Rhaegar publicly declared his love for Robert's betrothed, Lyanna Stark, which is the move that led to Robert's Rebellion and the Targaryens being overthrown.
Martin said in a statement, “The seeds of war are often planted in times of peace. Few in Westeros knew the carnage to come when highborn and smallfolk alike gathered at Harrenhal to watch the finest knights of the realm compete in a great tourney, during the Year of the False Spring. It is a tourney oft referred during HBO's Game of Thrones, and in my novels, A Song of Ice & Fire … and now, at last, we can tell the whole story... on the stage.”
Martin added, “An amazing team has been assembled to tell the tale, starting with producers Simon Painter, Tim Lawson and Jonathan Sanford. Their knowledge and love of my world and characters has impressed me from the very first, and their plans for this production blew me away since the first time we met. Dominic Cooke, our director, is a former artistic director of London's Royal Court Theatre, who brought Shakespeare's dramas of the War of the Roses to television, and our playwright, Duncan Macmillan, has previously adapted George Orwell and Henrik Ibsen, among others. Working with them (back before the pandemic, when we could actually get together) has been a treat, and I am eager for our collaboration to resume. Our dream is to bring Westeros to Broadway, to the West End, to Australia... and eventually, to a stage near you … It ought to be spectacular.”
MacMillan said, “I have such admiration for George’s world and his characters. His generosity and trust during this process has been incredible. Working on this play during lockdown has felt like a real privilege. I can’t wait until we can be back in a theatre to experience this together.”
Cooke went on to say, “I am over the moon at being given the opportunity, by the dynamic producing team of Tim Lawson, Simon Painter and Kilburn Live, to bring a new installment of George RR Martin’s epic story to a life on stage. One of George’s inspirations for the original books was Shakespeare’s history plays so the material lends itself naturally to the theatre. Duncan MacMillan and I are having a great time digging into the dynastic power struggles at the heart of George’s extraordinary imaginative world and he has been hugely generous and supportive towards both of us.”
The play comes from producers Simon Painter and Tim Lawson (The Illusionists), in partnership with Kilburn Live. The team’s goal is to debut productions in New York City, London’s West End and in Australia. The first show is expected to launch in 2023. HBO is not involved with the production at this point.
Source: THR