HBO President Shoots Down Fan Spinoff Idea for Game of Thrones, Doesn’t Want Prequel Pilot to Get Rushed (SPOILERS)

Warning: Spoilers follow for the final episode of Game of Thrones.

Deadline.com recently interviewed HBO Programming President Casey Bloys, who discussed people speculating on a future Game of Thrones spinoff that could focus on Arya sailing to explore undiscovered parts of the world after leaving Westeros. He also shared an update on the current prequel pilot that’s in the works for the franchise that’s set during the original “Long Night” of the mythology. The prequel will take place many years before the events of the recent series that concluded last Sunday. Below are some highlights.

Bloys on how there won’t be a continuation spinoff featuring Arya Stark: “I understand where that comes from, I totally get it. But in terms of wanting to be careful not overdoing it or not killing the goose that lays the golden egg, Dan and David’s show as it stands in eight seasons, I want to leave it as it’s own work of art and not have shows directly, having Arya do that. I think it’s best to try the prequels in other areas of George’s massive universe — just feels like the right thing to do, let the show stand on its own.”

Bloys on the timetable for the upcoming Long Night Game of Thrones prequel in the works: “I think this is the last thing you want to do with any show — prequel or not — you try not to rush it. So the last thing I want to do is put that sort of pressure on the prequel because George [R.R. Martin] has created this massive universe. It is within that universe, but Jane [Goldman] has created a different show — it’s not the same show, it’s not the same characters, it’s not the same time frame, it’s not the same dynamic. It’s a tough line to walk, but you want to do a show that is of that world but not a replica.”

Bloys on the current prequel pilot in the works: “I think [Goldman] has done a great job on the script and SJ Clarkson, the director, is prepping an amazing pilot. We are going to do that pilot and take our time and do it right. Hopefully, I expect we will love it and we will move forward, but I don’t want anything that happened with this final season to dictate anything that is happening in that process. The casting was completed a couple of weeks ago. They are busy in Belfast prepping and getting ready to start shooting in a couple of weeks.”