George R.R. Martin Confirms Game of Thrones Is Finally Redeeming Season 8

So. After all the memes and thinkpieces about that infamous final season, Game of Thrones might be gearing up for a do-over of sorts. George R.R. Martin just hinted that more Westeros is on the way — and yes, he used the s-word: sequel.

What Martin actually said

Speaking at the 2025 Iceland Noir Festival, Martin said there is follow-up Thrones material in development. His tease was short and very much to the point:

"A sequel or two"

If that pans out — and if the shows are, you know, good — I will happily retire a few Season 8 jokes. Until then, the ending still lands like a brick to the face.

Why a sequel even matters: the Season 8 baggage

The finale didn't just divide fans; it turned a cultural juggernaut into a cautionary tale. A quick refresher on the greatest hits (and misses): a very modern coffee cup photobombed Winterfell; the show pushed Daenerys into full scorch-earth mode at warp speed; the big prophecy threads for Jon Snow fizzled; and the long-hyped Night King showdown ended with Arya pulling off a surprise kill that a lot of viewers thought came out of nowhere.

Also, The Long Night was so dark people were squinting at OLEDs across the globe. And while Maester Aemon did warn Jon Snow that one day he'd have to choose between duty and love, the way that choice played out — Jon killing Daenerys — didn't feel worth the emotional setup for a lot of folks.

Where the finale left everyone

• Bran: elected King of the Six Kingdoms because, as pitched in the throne room, he had the best story. Not a democracy, but definitely a vibe.
• Sansa: crowned Queen in the North, with the North breaking off as an independent kingdom.
• Jon: sent back to the Night's Watch for killing Daenerys, then quietly chose to head beyond the Wall with the Free Folk.
• Arya: sailed west of Westeros to see what's out there.

How a sequel (or two) could actually fix things

If HBO and Martin really are cooking up post-finale stories, there are some easy pressure points to hit:

Bran's reign practically begs for drama. A realm stitched together after civil war? Sure. But toss in the North being independent under Sansa, tensions with Winterfell, possible uprisings, and the awkward little matter of succession for a king who likely won't have heirs, and you've got a political series with teeth.

Arya's wanderlust is tailor-made for a swashbuckling adventure. Sailing west could become a mystery-box exploration show, or she could swing back across the Narrow Sea into deep-cut territories like Asshai and the Shadow Lands. It's an easy way to expand the map and still peek at Westeros from afar.

Jon beyond the Wall is another lane. Call it redemption or just thawing out his soul after the finale, but watching him fall into a de facto King-beyond-the-Wall role — navigating Free Folk politics, magic on the margins, and whatever ancient weirdness is still brewing up north — could give his arc the weight it was missing at the end.

The bottom line

Martin saying there's a sequel or two in development is a big swing after that ending. If they nail it, maybe Thrones gets its reputation back. If not, well... the internet will not be short on jokes.

Do you think sequels can actually fix Game of Thrones' ending? I'm listening.

Game of Thrones is available to stream on HBO Max (USA).