Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin recently made some comments in regards to spinoffs of the hit HBO series in development at the network.

In a blog post, he said, “We have had five different GAME OF THRONES successor shows in development (I dislike the term “spinoffs”) at HBO, and three of them are still moving forward nicely. The one I am not supposed to call THE LONG NIGHT will be shooting later this year, and two other shows remain in the script stage, but are edging closer.”

Those comments are making waves as many are buzzing about what the Game of Thrones spinoffs could look like. But let’s not forget, we actually know a good bit about the one that is shooting this year!

What’s it about?

So..what exactly is the spinoff that could arrive on our screens the quickest? For one, it is a prequel taking place 10,000 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Here’s the logline for the potential series: “Only one thing is for sure: From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend — it’s not the story we think we know.”

We only know the description of one character, played by Naomi Watts. She is considered to be the topliner or what we’d call the star, so you could say that her character could be referred to as the main character. Her character will be “a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret.”

The cast

This cast is much more diverse than that of its predecessor. Several Black actors including Naomi Ackie, Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah have also been cast as regulars. You may be familiar with Ackie, who has gotten a lot of press lately due to the introduction of the mysterious character she’ll play in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Atim won an Olivier Award for her role in Girl From the North Country and Jeremiah has appeared in Humans and Black Mirror. Marquis Rodriguez, who stars in Ava DuVernay’s limited series on the Central Park jogger case, When They See Us, is also a regular.

Miranda Richardson, Josh Whitehouse, Denise Gough, Jamie Campbell Bower, Alex Sharp, Georgie Henley, Dixie Egerickx, John Simm, Richard McCabe and Toby Regbo round out the main cast.

When to expect it

We’ve known that the pilot will shoot this year, so Martin’s statements just serve as further confirmation. Taking a wild guess here, it will likely shoot in the fall and official series order could come before the end of the year or the top of next year, with a series debut potentially by late 2020 at the latest.

The status of the other spinoffs in development

We aren’t sure. Last year, HBO president Casey Bloys said that out of the five in development, the four other than this one were “not happening at the moment,” and that some were “dead,” but “others possibilities.” Now, Martin’s recent statements are contrary to what Bloys said last year, so we aren’t entirely sure of the status. Maybe things have changed?

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