LOS ANGELES, January 26, 2026 — The relationship between “Game of Thrones” creator George R.R. Martin and “House of the Dragon” showrunner Ryan Condal was, at times, “worse than rocky” and “abysmal,” according to Martin, but HBO is downplaying the behind-the-scenes turmoil as it moves forward with its expanding Westeros universe.
A Royal Rift: HBO Addresses Martin-Condal Clash
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The fallout between the author and showrunner involved creative disagreements, a deleted blog post, and intervention from HBO executives.
- Martin and Condal initially enjoyed a collaborative partnership during “House of the Dragon’s” first season.
- Disagreements over plot and character decisions escalated, particularly during planning for Season 3.
- HBO attempted to mediate the conflict and support both Martin’s continued involvement and Condal’s creative vision.
- Despite the friction, HBO remains confident in the success of “House of the Dragon” and its future plans for the franchise.
The extent of the creative clashes was revealed in a profile published by The Hollywood Reporter, detailing how Martin’s dissatisfaction with the show’s direction led to a breakdown in communication with Condal. The author reportedly felt sidelined after initially being consulted on scripts and creative decisions.
From Partnership to Discord
Martin’s unhappiness reportedly peaked during a Zoom call where Condal presented his vision for “House of the Dragon’s” third season. Martin voiced numerous objections, ultimately declaring, “This is not my story any longer.” He had initially believed he and Condal were partners, recalling a productive collaboration during the first season where he provided notes and Condal implemented changes.
The situation became further complicated when Martin publicly criticized a plot decision in Season 2 in a now-deleted blog post from September 2024. He slammed the decision to kill off a specific character, arguing it deviated from his established lore and went against a previous agreement with Condal. HBO swiftly removed the post at the request of Martin’s manager, while Martin himself was asleep, according to the profile.
HBO Steps In
Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, acknowledged the internal friction in an interview with Deadline. “Like any good American family, I would prefer that our dysfunction stays behind closed doors,” Bloys said. He emphasized that Martin initially recommended Condal for the project and praised his work as showrunner.
Bloys also affirmed HBO’s continued relationship with Martin, recognizing him as “the architect of this world.” He acknowledged that disagreements between creators are inevitable, stating, “The idea that he is going to agree with every creator or showrunner…two artists are not always going to agree. So, some of this comes with the territory.”
Looking Ahead: Westeros’ Future
Despite the tensions, HBO is forging ahead with its “Game of Thrones” universe. In November, the network announced Season 2 of “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” and Season 4 of “House of the Dragon” as part of a broader roadmap. “House of the Dragon” Season 3 is slated for summer 2026, with Season 4 marking the show’s conclusion.
Bloys confirmed Martin has “definitely taken a step back” from Season 3, focusing instead on “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” He expressed confidence in the creative direction of Season 3, noting the first two seasons garnered an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Condal has declined to comment further on the situation, but previously stated Martin had become “unwilling to acknowledge the practical issues at hand in a reasonable way.”
Beyond “House of the Dragon,” HBO is reportedly developing a sequel series starring Arya Stark, replacing previous plans for a Jon Snow spinoff. Animation icon Genndy Tartakovsky (Primal, Samurai Jack, Hotel Transylvania) is attached to the long-gestating animated spinoff series “9 Voyages,” which will follow the adventures of Lord Corlys Velaryon, portrayed in “House of the Dragon” by Steve Toussaint.
Photo by Tristar Media/WireImage.
