Brian Helgeland, known for his work on films like “Man on Fire” and “A Knight’s Tale,” was tasked with writing a Game of Thrones spin-off series titled “10,000 Ships.” The series focused on Queen Nymeria and her journey to find a new home for her people after their country had been ruined. Helgeland described the narrative as being similar to the Biblical story of Moses, with Queen Nymeria leading her people through a fictionalized version of the Mediterranean. The show was set 1,000 years before the events of Game of Thrones and would have featured characters living a nomadic life on a “raft city,” constantly in search of their own promised land.
Despite Helgeland’s confidence in his script, the powers that be at HBO felt that the idea for the show was “too far removed from the pillars of the original” Game of Thrones series. This decision led to the cancellation of “10,000 Ships,” leaving Helgeland’s vision unrealized. However, he remains hopeful, stating that “nothing is ever dead” in Hollywood, hinting that the project could potentially be picked up in the future.
“10,000 Ships” had similarities to another Game of Thrones spin-off idea, “9 Voyages,” which focuses on the Sea Snake character and takes place at sea. However, “9 Voyages” has been transformed from a live-action show to an animated series due to cost issues. George R.R. Martin emphasized that a live-action version of “9 Voyages” would have been “prohibitively expensive” to produce, given the extensive sea-based and location-based scenes required.
While “10,000 Ships” and “9 Voyages” may never see the light of day, HBO is moving forward with the second season of “House of the Dragon,” set to release in June. Additionally, another spin-off titled “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight” is scheduled for a late 2025 release. These projects indicate that the Game of Thrones universe is still expanding, despite the setbacks faced by certain spin-off ideas.
Brian Helgeland’s “10,000 Ships” was a promising concept that ultimately did not align with HBO’s vision for the Game of Thrones franchise. The series, which would have focused on Queen Nymeria’s journey to find a new home for her people, offered a unique perspective on the world of Westeros. While the show may not have materialized, the legacy of Game of Thrones continues through other spin-off projects that explore different aspects of George R.R. Martin’s rich and expansive universe.
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