Game of Thrones currently holds a prominent position among popular TV series, boasting an impressive IMDB rating of up to 9.5. However, did you know that there was once a version of Game of Thrones that was so poorly received that HBO almost canceled the series before it even premiered?
Let’s delve deeper into this intriguing fact along with some lesser-known details about the Game of Thrones series below.
The Tough Question from George R.R. Martin
The success of the Game of Thrones series is closely linked to the original work by George R.R. Martin – A Song of Ice and Fire. We often see him appearing at events related to this series with a cheerful demeanor. However, in the past, he was very hesitant to adapt his work into a film, fearing that it would not fully capture the nuances he had infused into this beloved world.
When David Benioff and D.B. Weiss from HBO contacted him to discuss adapting his novels into a series, George R.R. Martin stated that he would only agree if they could answer one question: “Who is Jon Snow’s father?” David Benioff and D.B. Weiss provided the right answer, and eventually, George R.R. Martin had to agree for Game of Thrones to be produced. It was a question that had lingered for many years, and we had to wait until season 6 to finally learn the answer…
HBO Almost Canceled Game of Thrones Due to Poor Quality
In the current era, few would dare to claim that Game of Thrones is a poorly made series. However, fans might be surprised to know that before the series aired, a different version of Game of Thrones was produced, leading the HBO executives to seriously consider canceling the show.
Fortunately, the film crew managed to convince HBO executives to allow them to shoot the first season almost in its entirety again. Additionally, the lead actors were also replaced, with Emilia Clarke taking over from Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys Targaryen and Michelle Fairley replacing Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn Stark… Thankfully, we did not have to watch that version.
Congratulations, Everyone Hates You!
When Ramsay Snow appeared in season 3, he became the character that viewers hated the most, surpassing even King Joffrey, portrayed by teenage actor Jack Gleeson from Ireland.
After a few episodes aired, to congratulate Jack Gleeson on his successful role, author George R.R. Martin sent the actor a message: “Congratulations, everyone hates you!” It’s truly a remarkable feat.
There are Entire Language Systems: Dothraki and Valyrian
When writing his novels, George R.R. Martin only created a limited vocabulary for the Dothraki and Valyrian languages. However, the producers of Game of Thrones required much more, so they hired David J. Peterson, a linguist, to develop a complete language system for both Dothraki and Valyrian, including grammar, vocabulary, and even slang… Fans today can also learn these two languages.
The Red Wedding was Based on a Real Event
The Red Wedding, where the Stark family was brutally murdered, was inspired by a real event in Scottish history. In 1440, William, the Earl of Douglas, and his 10-year-old brother were invited to a banquet by King James II of Scotland. During the event, the king’s retinue turned on the two brothers, leading to their tragic deaths, an event that has since been referred to as The Black Dinner.
All the Dead Bodies Were Made on Set
Game of Thrones
In the battle scenes that took place at Winterfell in season 6, we followed the epic battles, and according to the production team’s details, every dead body seen on screen was made on set, not just for the sake of effects. They had to create numerous lifelike shapes, dressed them up, and even applied realistic blood effects… Even the corpses were crafted with intricate details.
