We’ve seen and heard from the last ofGeorge R.R. Martinwhen it comes to HBO’sGame of Thrones. While Martin was involved with the inception of the series and even shot a cameo in the pilot (which was later cut), he’s backed away from the series in recent years as the show has moved past the books. For each of the first four seasons, Martin wrote an episode of the series, but he hasn’t been a credited writer on the show since 2015. Now, Martin reveals he was given the opportunity to shoot a cameo for the show’s upcoming final season, and he turned it down.
Speaking withEW, Martin says he didn’t have time to fly to Belfast to shoot a cameo forGame of ThronesSeason 8:
“[Showrunners]David[Benioff] andDan[Weiss] invited me to a cameo in one of the final episodes, which I was tempted to do. But I didn’t think just for the sake of a cameo I could take the time to return to Belfast.”
That’s a bummer to hear, asGame of Throneswouldn’t exist without Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firebook series. The writer went on to reveal why his cameo was cut from Season 1:
“There was a cameo in the original pilot that was cut,” he noted. “I was a guest at Dany’s wedding. But that was when she was played byTamzin Merchantso all that footage got thrown out when we recast withEmilia Clarke.”
Indeed,Game of Throneswas almost over before it began, asTom McCarthy—director of the Best Picture-winning dramaSpotlight—directed the first pilot for the series. But it was so poorly received internally that Benioff and Weiss had to kind of start over and reconceive the episode. McCarthy was unavailable for the new pilot, so HBO veteranTim Van Pattenwas hired to direct the reshot version of the pilot, which the pay cable network thankfully allowed to proceed.
Martin is involved in the upcomingGame of Thronesprequel seriesas an executive producer, withJane Goldmanserving as showrunner, so it’s not as if Martin is done with HBO for good. It’ll be interesting to see what he has to say about the series finale and how it all ends, as he famously told Benioff and Weiss how his version of the story is supposed to end when it became clear the show would conclude before Martin’s book series.
But yeah, whenGame of Thronesreturns for its final episodes in April, don’t expect to see Martin’s face.
