‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel Starring Naomi Watts Cancelled Abruptly
HBO has cancelled the Game of Thrones prequel starring actress Naomi Watts.
According to Deadline, the spin-off series has been officially axed. The show was set "thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones" and was going to "chronicle the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour," including the "horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history" and "the true origin of the White Walkers."
The website reports showrunner Jane Goldman "has been emailing the cast and crew of the project to tell them that the pilot is dead," which could mean the network decided not to move forward after seeing the first episode.
According to TV Line's sources, this might be the case. Apparently "HBO execs screened the pilot over the summer and were not thrilled with the results." They reportedly advised Goldman to make a few changes, however, the edited version still failed to impress the executives which led them to "pull the plug altogether."
Insiders also say the pilot was "troubled" from the start due to creative differences, personal issues and budget problems. Luckily, it seems like HBO is still moving forward with it's two other Game of Thrones prequels, one of which is expected to detail the rise and fall of House Targaryen.
As of right now, HBO has not yet confirmed these reports via an official announcement.