George R.R. Martin Teases Arya Stark Spinoff — Game of Thrones Sequel On the Horizon

HBO is not easing off the Thrones gas pedal. With the Dunk-and-Egg show closing in, George R.R. Martin says there are a bunch more Game of Thrones spinoffs cooking — and not all of them are set in the past.

What Martin just put out there

Speaking about the state of the franchise, Martin said he is actively working with other writers on multiple projects beyond House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (via Los Siete Reinos). Most are prequels, but he also confirmed sequel ideas are in play.

Besides The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon, there are other Game of Thrones spinoff projects in development. Most are prequels. There are several in development, five or six series; and I am not developing them alone; I am working with other people. Yes, there is some sequel.

So what does that mean, exactly?

• Prequels: Think House of the Dragon and the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight (the Dunk-and-Egg tale centered on Ser Duncan the Tall). Martin says most of the projects are set before the main series.
• Sequels: He also says there are sequel ideas in development — rare territory for this franchise so far. He did not name characters or timelines.
• Volume: He puts the total slate at five or six series in development, and stresses he is working with other writers rather than tackling them solo.

The Arya-sized possibility

This is where the fan brain goes: if there is a sequel, is it finally Arya Stark? It is not confirmed, but you can see why everyone jumps there. She was one of the few to make it out of the final season alive and sailed west of Westeros into the unknown — a clean launch pad for a new adventure that is not boxed into the usual maps or politics. Also, after the Season 8 fallout, there is an appetite to give certain characters, like Arya, something that feels like a better sendoff.

Maisie Williams would return, but only with a new angle

Maisie Williams has been clear: she is not interested in a victory lap that just remixes the old beats. Talking about what an Arya follow-up would need to be, she told People that it has to feel fresh and worth doing — both for fans and for her.

Her gist: she is figuring out what would make people happy while still being fulfilling as an actor, and it cannot just be the same thing again. If it happens, it needs a genuinely new direction.

Bottom line

HBO and Martin have five or six Thrones projects percolating, mostly prequels, with at least some sequel ideas in the mix. Arya is the obvious sequel candidate, but nothing is official. For now, the sure thing is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms moving toward the start line, while the rest of the chessboard quietly fills up behind the scenes.