George R.R. Martin Describes ‘Abysmal’ Relationship with House of the Dragon Team

Renowned author George R.R. Martin has opened up about his turbulent relationship with Ryan Condal, the showrunner of HBO’s prequel series “House of the Dragon.” His comments reveal a stark contrast to his praises for Ira Parker, the showrunner for the upcoming series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.”

Martin’s Challenges with ‘House of the Dragon’

In a recent profile with Hollywood Reporter, Martin described his collaboration with Condal as “abysmal.” He expressed feelings of betrayal, stating, “I hired Ryan,” and believed they were partners throughout the first season. However, the dynamics shifted dramatically when Condal became the sole showrunner for the second season.

Communication Breakdowns

Initially, Martin shared his input on script drafts, receiving thoughtful revisions in return. But once Condal took full control, Martin noted a significant decline in communication:

• Martin reported that Condal “stopped listening” to his feedback.
• His attempts to provide notes were often met with indifference.
• At times, Condal would acknowledge his suggestions but fail to implement changes.

This ongoing frustration led HBO to suggest that Martin submit his notes directly to them, who would relay feedback to Condal.

Public Outburst and Fallout

In the midst of the second season’s airing, Martin expressed discontent in a now-deleted blog post. He criticized Condal’s changes to the established canon from his 700-page work, “Fire and Blood,” calling them “toxic.” This public frustration triggered a swift response from HBO executives, resulting in the removal of the post and cautioning Martin about future comments regarding the show.

His Position with HBO

Following a contentious Zoom call with Condal, Martin was reportedly asked to step back from the show. Although he has since returned in some capacity, he remains tight-lipped about his current role.

Contrasting Collaborations

While Martin’s relationship with Condal has soured, he has been complimentary about his collaboration with Parker, emphasizing their shared priorities in developing “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” Martin stated that Parker is “terrific” and aligned with his creative vision.

Condal, for his part, expressed in an earlier statement his efforts to include Martin in the adaptation process, suggesting that his involvement diminished due to Martin’s unyielding stance on certain creative issues.

This ongoing saga between Martin and Condal showcases the complexities of adapting beloved literary works for television. Managing the author’s expectations and creative input is a fine balancing act for HBO, illustrating the challenges of translating written narratives to the screen.