Brandon Sanderson explains his reasons for not wanting to helm Game of Thrones.

The anticipation for The Winds of Winter, the sixth installment in George R.R. Martin’s epic Song of Ice and Fire series, is a hot topic among fans. HBO’s Game of Thrones veered off course in its later seasons due to Martin’s unfinished narrative. Nearly a decade ago, Steven Soderbergh humorously referenced this in his film Logan Lucky. Some fans are increasingly concerned that Martin might pass away before completing The Winds of Winter, potentially leaving another author to finish the saga. Brandon Sanderson has stated that he wouldn’t be the right choice for that task.

Sanderson, a well-known fantasy author recognized for his Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series set in the Cosmere universe, gained significant attention when he was selected to complete The Wheel of Time series after Robert Jordan’s passing. This experience has led some to believe he would be a suitable candidate to continue Martin’s work if necessary. However, Sanderson disagrees, explaining in a recent interview, “Respectfully, I’m the wrong person to do this.” He emphasized that if Martin were to go that route, he deserves someone who fits his world as well as Sanderson did for Wheel of Time. He added, “That said, I don’t think George wants to go that direction, so let’s just support him in writing his books at the speed he’s capable of going.”

Sanderson also challenges the notion that fans are entitled to a resolution of the series. He believes Martin doesn’t owe anyone books; rather, he owes his fans a genuine effort in crafting them. “It’s not, however, my job to determine if George has made that effort or not. My gut says that he has.”

Martin has been working on The Winds of Winter since before the release of A Dance with Dragons in 2011, describing it in 2025 as the “curse of his life.” As of January this year, he confirmed he is still making progress, having completed over 1,000 pages, but has yet to provide a release timeline.

To complicate matters, The Winds of Winter isn’t even the series’ conclusion. Martin has indicated that he plans to write a seventh book, titled A Dream of Spring, to wrap up the saga. Given the lengthy wait for the sixth book, fans shouldn’t expect A Dream of Spring to arrive anytime soon.

Don’t underestimate the dedication he puts into his work.