HBO Chief Pushes Back on George R.R. Martin’s Scathing House of the Dragon Critique
HBO boss Casey Bloys weighs in after George R.R. Martin called his relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal abysmal, clarifying the network’s stance in a new interview.
HBO just addressed George R.R. Martin calling his relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal 'abysmal.' If you like messy behind-the-scenes TV drama, this is that, and yes, the network is trying to keep the dragons flying while the parents fight.
What HBO is saying
In a new chat with Deadline, HBO chief Casey Bloys responded directly to Martin’s comments. He didn’t deny there’s strain, but he did try to keep it classy and in-house.
'Like any good American family, I would prefer that our dysfunction stays behind closed doors. But here we are.'
Bloys made a point to remind everyone that Martin was the one who brought Condal to HBO in the first place. And from HBO’s side, Condal is doing the job: Bloys called him an excellent showrunner and a strong creative partner.
HBO is not cutting ties with the author either. Bloys said the network still has an overall deal with Martin and sees him as the person who built this entire universe. As for House of the Dragon season 3, Bloys confirmed Martin stepped back this season and has been focusing on Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which Martin has long called his favorite project.
What Martin says happened
In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Martin said things went south in season 2. According to him, Condal stopped taking his input, and the working relationship broke down from there.
'This is not my story any longer.'
Martin says that after that turning-point Zoom, HBO told him to route his notes through the network rather than sending them directly to Condal. For context, Martin originally hired Condal for the show and felt like the two were partners during season 1.
Where Condal stands
Condal hasn’t issued a new statement since this latest flare-up. Previously, he called Martin a 'literary icon' and said he hoped they could 'rediscover that harmony someday.'
The bigger picture
- Season 1: Martin brings Condal in, close collaboration.
- Season 2: Relationship frays; Martin says Condal stopped listening; he declares the show is no longer his story; HBO asks Martin to channel notes through them.
- Season 3: Martin steps back from the series and focuses on Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Despite all of this, Bloys says HBO is happy with the work on screen: 'I’m thrilled with what Ryan has done, he’s been a great collaborator with us.' He even brought receipts, pointing to an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score across House of the Dragon’s first two seasons.
Translation: the network is backing its showrunner, keeping Martin in the fold, and hoping the work speaks for itself. It’s a rare peek at the author-showrunner push-pull on a massive adaptation, and it sounds like everyone’s trying to keep the peace without slowing the machine.