George R.R. Martin Wants to Write a Braavos Game of Thrones Story That HBO Scrapped, But Only When Winds of Winter Is Done

HBO scrapped a Braavos set Game of Thrones spin-off but A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin wants to write it proper once upcoming novel The Winds of Winter is finished.

Martin wrote a blog post discussing how Braavos, a city in Game of Thrones fans will know as the home of the Iron Bank and Faceless Men, was inspired by Amsterdam and other European locations. He then teased plans for another spin-off story akin to Fire and Blood and Tales of Dunk and Egg.

“One of these days I need to write that story about Braavos we were developing for HBO,” Martin said. “They shelved that one a couple of years back, alas, but that does not mean I won’t go back to it… After Winds of Winter is done, of course. Maybe then I will have enough free time to visit Amsterdam again.”

This is the first word that HBO was developing a Braavos series though, as Martin noted, its now been scrapped. It therefore joins a prequel based on an in-world apocalypse called The Long Night, which HBO cancelled even after spending $30 million on a pilot episode, a show called 10,000 Ships which would focus on a sea-faring city, and a Jon Snow-led sequel as unsuccessful Game of Thrones spin-offs.

This one may live on through Martin’s writing, at least, though it will seemingly only arrive after the infamously delayed next A Song of Ice and Fire novel. Martin has, ironically, previously said he’s made little progress with the book because of show development, and later slammed HBO for its direction of House of the Dragon Season 2.

The Winds of Winter was originally expected three years after the last book, A Dance With Dragons, in 2014, meaning it’s now 10 years late. It’s the penultimate A Song of Ice and Fire book, but many have now expressed doubt it will ever be released.

Martin did offer somewhat of a story tease for The Winds of Winter in July 2024 though, saying it will explain the relationship between dragons and humans and how the Targaryen’s is different.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.