by James Hibberd, from The Hollywood Reporter:
HBO has given a pilot order to the fantasy project Game of Thrones.
The program is based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Fire & Ice series of novels and executive produced by David Benioff (Troy) and D.B. Weiss (Halo). The title Game of Thrones is from the first novel in the series.
If it gets an episodic order, Thrones would represent the rarest of TV genres: a full-fledged fantasy series.
Although broadcasters have embraced sci-fi-tinged shows in recent years following the success of ABC’s Lost and NBC’s Heroes, and supernatural themes have been given a spin by the CW’s Supernatural and HBO’s own True Blood, high fantasy is nearly nonexistent in primetime TV history — and Thrones is an unabashed member of the genre. The books have swords, dragons, magic, the works.
“Fantasy is the most successful genre in terms of feature films given the incredible popularity of the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies,” Benioff said. “High fantasy has never been done on TV before, and if anybody can do it, it’s HBO. They’ve taken tired genres and reinvented them — mobsters in The Sopranos and Westerns with Deadwood.”
The cost of producing a fantasy series is usually a factor that deters networks. The producers note that Thrones is written as a character drama and major battles often take place offstage.
“It’s not a story with a million orcs charging across the plains,” Weiss said. “The most expensive effects are creature effects, and there’s not much of that.”
Martin plans seven books. If HBO picks up the project to series, the producers intend for each novel to encompass a season.
But before the series can get on the air, the producers first have to slay a threat more formidable than any dragon: pilot competitors. HBO has 10 other pilots in contention for series orders. Though the network declines to project how many shows will receive an order since HBO doesn’t need to fill a specific number of time periods as do broadcasters, at least six are expected to get a pickup.
Also, the success of True Blood may work in Thrones‘ favor. HBO has always sought to defy any sort of specific genre branding for its network, emphasizing that each project is judged on its own merits. Yet given how the vampire drama continues to gain viewers and how Showtime’s swords-and-monarchy historical drama The Tudors has performed, it’s not unreasonable to believe the network may see Thrones as a good fit.
Previous fantasy titles on TV are few and far between. ABC’s Pushing Daisies might qualify as a member of the genre, though its fantastical elements are wrapped in a modern-day crime procedural. ABC Family’s Kyle XY could fit. Some would consider the WB’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer fantasy, though supernatural drama is probably a more appropriate term. Former syndicated program Xena: Warrior Princess, however, is firmly in the genre, and NBC’s upcoming Kings also qualifies.