One of ‘Game of Thrones’ Best Writers Working on Fifth Prequel Spinoff

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin upped the ante on our four potential spinoffs with a fifth, and the secrecy may have been justified. One of the series’ most involved writers is now attached to the fifth, directly partnering with Martin himself.

Per Entertainment Weekly, “The Laws of Gods and Men” and “Kissed by Fire” writer-producer Bryan Cogman has been revealed as mind behind the fifth spinoff pitch, which Martin previously alluded to on his blog. And while Martin has a hand in all potential spinoff projects (none of which wouldn’t air before the final season), the author is said to be working “closely” with Cogman on the new prequel.

HBO will likely choose only one of the five (if not more) pitches for a Game of Thrones spinoff, all of which have been said to explore earlier parts of Westeros history that don’t involve any familiar characters. Writer Jane Goldman also previously teased that her own pitch involves a famous historical event from Martin’s Game of Thrones appendices, which cover thousands of years.

Last we heard, the network hadn’t intended to begin work on any spinoff before the main series comes to a close. At the very least, Martin has clarified that no pitch involves the “Robert’s Rebellion” that set the stage for Game of Thrones a few decades earlier, nor will any include the Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas.

Game of Thrones might still wait until 2019 for its final episodes, but will any details of Cogman’s spinoff emerge before then?