George R.R. Martin Hopes HBO’s House of the Dragon Will Outperform Amazon’s Lord of the Rings Series



House of The Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will compete for the viewership of fantasy enthusiasts this summer. However, George R.R. Martin hopes House of the Dragon, an adaptation of his 2018 novel Fire & Blood, will slightly outperform its competition. In a recent interview with The Independent, Martin spoke on the rivalry created by the two shows releasing so close together.

“I hope both shows succeed. Yeah, I’m competitive enough, I hope we succeed more. If they win six Emmy’s, and I hope they do, I hope we win seven. But nonetheless it’s good for fantasy, I love fantasy, I love science-fiction.”

HBO is releasing House of the Dragon on Aug. 21st, with Amazon’s The Rings of Power arriving shortly after that, on Sept. 2nd. Both shows are releasing weekly instead of binge-format. Therefore, the first seasons will overlap, giving fans of the series a lot to look forward to.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

“The minute the dates were announced, it’s ‘oh, the battle for supremacy. It’s Rings of Power versus House of [the] Dragon, who will win? I don’t know why they always have to do that.”

This will be uncharted territory for Lord of the Rings fans, with a noticeable lack of source material being used for The Rings of Power show. Without any novels to guide the writers, the series will be based on the immense backstory that J.R.R. Tolkien laid out in the appendices to the LOTR books. The Rings of Power is set in the Second Age of Middle Earth, thousands of years before the events of Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The series will be the most expensive television show ever made after Amazon acquired the rights in 2017 for $250 million. There is currently a five-season production commitment worth at least $1 billion.

Related: What the House of the Dragon Trailer Reveals About The Show

It’s the Golden Age for Fans of Fantasy

HBO

It’s been over three years since the controversial finale of Game of Thrones and more than a decade since Martin released a new entry into the series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Needless to say, fans are itching to get back into the world of Westeros and the lands beyond. House of the Dragon will star Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, and Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. In addition, Miguel Sapochnik is returning to direct at least three episodes in the series, which should excite fans as he directed some of the most beloved Game of Thrones episodes, such as Hardhome and Battle of the Bastards.

Related: Early The Rings of Power Reactions Praise Amazon’s Vision for the Lord of the Rings Prequel

Although several characters from the Lord of the Rings trilogy will be returning to The Rings of Power, the actors who played them will not. Due to the drastic difference in time periods, characters like Elrond and Galadriel have been recast to represent their younger selves during the Second Age. The series stars Robert Aramayo as Elrond, Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, and Joseph Mawle as Oren.

With HBO Max and Amazon Prime releasing both shows before the summer’s end, Tolkein and Martin fans won’t have to wait much longer to travel back to Westeros and the world of Middle-Earth.

Next: The Rings of Power Will Explore the Origins of Familiar Characters Sauron, Elrond, & More

Game of Thrones Fans Want George R.R. Martin Imprisoned for Not Finishing Winds of Winter Yet

Read Next

About The Author

David Christopherson
(2 Articles Published)

More From David Christopherson

You can view the original article HERE.

The Great Performances of 2024, Part Two | Features
The Great Performances of 2024, Part Two | Features
Denzel Washington Crime Thriller ‘Man on Fire’ is a Hit on Tubi
Denzel Washington Crime Thriller ‘Man on Fire’ is a Hit on Tubi
‘Eyes Wide Shut’ Is a Christmas Movie Whether You Like It Or Not
‘Eyes Wide Shut’ Is a Christmas Movie Whether You Like It Or Not
No Box He Won’t Escape From: James Mangold on “A Complete Unknown” | Interviews
No Box He Won’t Escape From: James Mangold on “A Complete Unknown” | Interviews
Watch Waxahatchee perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk for the first time in 10 years
Watch Waxahatchee perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk for the first time in 10 years
Watch Ben Stiller hit the road in SZA’s wistful ‘Drive’ video 
Watch Ben Stiller hit the road in SZA’s wistful ‘Drive’ video 
Charli XCX announces Troye Sivan will join her for ‘SWEAT PT. 2’ at Primavera Sound
Charli XCX announces Troye Sivan will join her for ‘SWEAT PT. 2’ at Primavera Sound
Stormzy says Beyoncé inspired him to become “superhuman on stage”
Stormzy says Beyoncé inspired him to become “superhuman on stage”
Virgin River Season 6 Ending Explained: Is Charmaine Alive?
Virgin River Season 6 Ending Explained: Is Charmaine Alive?
‘Homefront’ Is Jason Statham’s Best Role & Sylvester Stallone Wrote It
‘Homefront’ Is Jason Statham’s Best Role & Sylvester Stallone Wrote It
Frederick Wiseman Gets a Massive 4K Retrospective at Lincoln Center
Frederick Wiseman Gets a Massive 4K Retrospective at Lincoln Center
The Quiet Revolution of The Defenders: TV’s First Legal Drama with a Conscience
The Quiet Revolution of The Defenders: TV’s First Legal Drama with a Conscience
KAT thrills with historic stat line in Minnesota homecoming
KAT thrills with historic stat line in Minnesota homecoming
Report: Lillard signs lifetime contract extension with Adidas
Report: Lillard signs lifetime contract extension with Adidas
Bucks’ Ham perplexed by not getting HC extension from Lakers
Bucks’ Ham perplexed by not getting HC extension from Lakers
Why Professional Expertise Matters in the Modern Business World
Why Professional Expertise Matters in the Modern Business World
Lizzo gives 1st interview since sexual harassment lawsuits. What events led to this?
Lizzo gives 1st interview since sexual harassment lawsuits. What events led to this?
Kelly Clarkson Shades Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock in Christmas Video
Kelly Clarkson Shades Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock in Christmas Video
Ethan Slater’s ex-wife, Lilly Jay, writes about navigating divorce ‘in the shadow’ of his relationship with Ariana Grande. How we got here.
Ethan Slater’s ex-wife, Lilly Jay, writes about navigating divorce ‘in the shadow’ of his relationship with Ariana Grande. How we got here.
Wisconsin School Shooter’s TikTok Account Deleted After ADL Complaints
Wisconsin School Shooter’s TikTok Account Deleted After ADL Complaints
The Best Nordstrom Sweaters For Every Style and Budget
The Best Nordstrom Sweaters For Every Style and Budget
Danielle Bernstein On Her First WeWoreWhat Fragrance
Danielle Bernstein On Her First WeWoreWhat Fragrance
2024 In Fashion: Rihanna’s Reign, Victoria’s Secret’s Return, Alex Consani’s Rise, & More Top 2024 Moments!
2024 In Fashion: Rihanna’s Reign, Victoria’s Secret’s Return, Alex Consani’s Rise, & More Top 2024 Moments!
The West Hollywood EDITION’s Festive New Becky Hearn Installation Is In Full Bloom!
The West Hollywood EDITION’s Festive New Becky Hearn Installation Is In Full Bloom!