Game of Thrones: All important confirmed details of the prequel Blood Moon

The Game of Thrones prequel has a working title of ‘Blood Moon’. GoT Creator George R.R. Martin and others have revealed details of the development, including which houses are involved.

People are barely recovering from the dismay over the rather rushed Game of Thrones finale season but now we know enough to whet our collective appetite about the prequel, Blood Moon. Thankfully details have been released gradually and sparingly via originator George R.R. Martin, amongst others.

Filming of Blood Moon has begun, as you can see by the above photo on a tweet from @bloodmoonposts. Filming for the pilot was said to have undertaken in June, though as we can see above the sets were being built by May.

While George R.R. Martin prefers another name for the spin-off. Here’s IndieWire‘s quote from the great fantasy author:

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"“The Starks will definitely be there. Obviously the White Walkers are here — or as they’re called in my books, The Others — and that will be an aspect of it. There are things like direwolves and mammoths."

Martin talks about what Westeros might look like in the new spin-off.

"“We talk about the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros; there were Seven Kingdoms at the time of Aegon’s Conquest. But if you go back further then there are nine kingdoms, and 12 kingdoms, and eventually you get back to where there are a hundred kingdoms — petty kingdoms — and that’s the era we’re talking about here.“The Lannisters aren’t there yet, but Casterly Rock is certainly there; it’s like the Rock of Gibraltar. It’s actually occupied by the Casterlys — for whom it’s still named after in the time of Game of Thrones."

Finally, it seems like he has a title in mind for the story.

"“I heard a suggestion that it could be called ‘The Longest Night,’ which is a variant I wouldn’t mind,” he said. “That would be pretty good.”"

It is a shame the Lannisters will not be involved in the production. Although it is equally as thrilling, if not more so, that the Stark family will be pivotal. Thousands of years ago – between five and ten thousand, to be exact – Westeros was a very different place, we are led to believe.

Other details include: Northern Ireland as a shooting location; the story leads to an ‘epic’ confrontation with the White Walkers, again; the setting pre-dates the Targaryen’s – therefore there are no dragons! Shock horror. Actors signed on are include: Naomi Watts, Naomi Ackie, and Denise Gough, in an ensemble cast. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly for those insights.

The successor show will feature material from the Fire & Blood, book. Wikipedia tells us of a prospective “Andal Invasion when the Andals invaded from Essos and conquered most of Westeros.” Four projects inspired by Game of Thrones were being considered by HBO. Right now one is being made, two are ‘close to development’ and one was scrapped.

Additionally, the website says S.J. Clarkson will direct the pilot, her credits include: “Life on Mars, Heroes, House, Dexter, and Ugly Betty, she co-created the British series Mistresses. In 2010, she also directed the film Toast.”

Annoyed fans who criticized Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss – unfairly due to budget issues out of their control – will be pleased to know that the new show boss is Jane Goldman. She wrote the hit movie Kick-Ass so is a pedigree writer. Incidentally, she is married to polarising British celebrity Jonathan Ross.

What name do you think would suit the new spinoff best, Blood Moon, The Longest Night or another – as ‘The Long Night’ was a battle episode in the final season? Please, tell us in the comment section below.