George R.R. Martin Has Stepped Back from House of the Dragon, Says HBO Chief

George R.R. Martin has taken a backseat in the development of House of the Dragon’s third season, as confirmed by HBO’s Casey Bloys. Instead, the creator of Game of Thrones is focusing on adapting his beloved A Song of Ice and Fire tales into a series titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Bloys shared that Martin has indeed stepped back, emphasizing that he is concentrating on Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. “One of the reasons we found this adaptation interesting is that we always knew it was George’s favorite, which was significant for us,” he noted.

While Bloys didn’t delve into the specifics of Martin’s reduced involvement with House of the Dragon, it’s important to mention that the author recently described his relationship with the show’s showrunner as “miserable.” He expressed frustration over his feedback not being implemented, stating that HBO suggested he submit his notes to them, which would then be relayed to the showrunner.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on Martin’s A Tale of Dunk and Egg novellas, follows Ser Duncan, a hedge knight, and his young squire with a mysterious background. Their adventures unfold across a Westeros ruled by the Targaryens. The series is set to wrap up on February 22.

Currently, the show boasts an impressive 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and airs on Sundays in the US and Mondays in the UK.

House of the Dragon’s third season is anticipated to premiere in the summer of 2026.