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A Game of Thrones movie about Valyria could set up HBO’s Aegon the Conqueror show

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A Game of Thrones movie about Valyria could set up HBO's Aegon the Conqueror show

As a dedicated fan who has spent countless hours immersed in the intricate world of George R.R. Martin’s epic saga, I must say that this proposed plan for a Game of Thrones movie and subsequent series about Aegon the Conqueror and The Doom of Valyria sounds absolutely captivating.

A few weeks ago, I chanced upon an intriguing piece of news: HBO is stealthily exploring the possibility of a Game of Thrones film. The scoop was broken by The Hollywood Reporter. At present, there’s no writer, director, or storyline sketched out for this potential production; all we know for certain about the possible Game of Thrones movie is that HBO is embarking on its creation in its infancy stages. Given HBO’s history of experimenting with various Thrones spinoffs, it’s not a given that this project will come to fruition or that we’ll uncover additional details about it.

But perhaps that’s a bit too pessimistic. We’ve speculated a fair amount about what a Game of Thrones movie might be about, because we know so little about it that we can get fully into theory mode. But it’s possible there’s another piece to this puzzle that’s been sitting right in plain sight. If you’ll allow me to put on my tinfoil cap, I think there’s a pretty exciting possibility for what this Thrones movie could be about…and if it’s true, it means that we actually heard about this film for the first time last year in an entirely different report.

In April 2023, Variety reported that HBO was planning a TV series about Aegon the Conqueror, the initial ruler of Westeros’ Seven Kingdoms who consolidated power under his reign (excluding Dorne, which held out against him and wasn’t fully incorporated until much later). Since then, it appears development on the show is progressing, with The Batman Part II writer Mattson Tomlin now working on the script. This suggests that Aegon Targaryen and his sister-wives Rhaenys and Visenya are making strides in their storyline.

Additionally, The Variety report unveiled an intriguing tidbit: it’s possible that the upcoming Aegon the Conqueror series could include a full-length movie as part of its development. This suggests that HBO and Warner Bros. might initially produce a feature film, which could potentially serve as a precursor to the TV series. However, it’s worth noting that plans are still in the early stages at this point.

If it’s accurate that HBO was contemplating a film serving as a prequel to Aegon’s Conquest, it’s possible we already possess the hints necessary to figure out what this freshly disclosed Game of Thrones movie might be about. My speculation? The movie focuses on the Doom of Valyria.

What is the Doom of Valyria?

The Doom of Valyria refers to a significant historical event that transpired approximately 400 years before the narrative of “Game of Thrones” and nearly 100 years prior to Aegon’s conquest of Westeros. At that time, Valyria was the undisputed powerhouse in the realm of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” having subjugated almost all of western Essos, including most Free Cities, Ghiscari slave cities, kingdoms along the River Rhoyne, and more. The city was governed by houses of dragonlords, who possessed numerous dragons, powerful sorcerers, and vast armies of soldiers and slaves. Valyria’s reign was unchallenged…until a disaster struck the heartland itself, annihilating it in a single day: the Doom.

The Valyrian Freehold was situated on a peninsula and surrounded by fourteen massive volcanoes, famously called the Fourteen Flames. It was widely believed that these volcanoes played a crucial role in the prosperity of the empire. However, the circumstances surrounding the event known as the Doom remain enveloped in secrecy. What is clear is that all the Fourteen Flames exploded simultaneously, unleashing fires so intense that not even dragons could withstand them and fly overhead. Yet, it remains uncertain whether this catastrophic eruption was a divine retribution or something more ominous.

From my perspective as a follower, the world of Ice and Fire ponders the intricate bond between the Valyrians and the Fourteen Flames. Some scholars in Westeros suggest that the volcanoes were maintained by relentless sorcerers, implying that perhaps the treacherous actions of the Valyrian nobility led to the demise of too many of these magical keepers, causing the explosive eruptions. An alternative theory proposes that Valyria, notorious for enslaving neighboring nations, may have used those captives in sinister rituals to control the volcanoes. When they exhausted their options for easy conquest, the magic waned and the volcanoes erupted. Others suggest it was a natural occurrence. The reality of what truly happened has been swallowed by time.

Following the mysterious downfall of Valyria, a profound power gap emerged across Essos, sparking endless conflicts over the following centuries. As the Free Cities scrambled to assert their dominance in the wake of the Freehold’s abrupt disappearance, I found myself drawn into the heart of these turbulent times.

Why the Doom of Valyria would make sense as a movie

Let’s take a moment to ponder over why it might be more fitting for the Doom connected to Aegon the Conqueror to be depicted as a movie rather than a TV series, considering the financial challenges that HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, is currently facing. One of the major hurdles for this series lies in its budget, as George R.R. Martin’s creative vision includes numerous dragons, which can quickly escalate costs when presented on a small screen. The reported budget for House of the Dragon season 2 of $20 million per episode may not accurately reflect the true cost of these eight episodes of television.

A significant portion of the budget is allocated for the dragons; as of now, House of the Dragon has displayed over a dozen dragons, with more to follow. Showrunner Ryan Condal reveals there are seventeen dragons presently in Westeros, marking a historical peak. The Dance of the Dragons civil war occurs during the height of Targaryen power across the Seven Kingdoms, which means this is the most dragons they’ll ever have simultaneously.

But there are hundreds of dragons alive during the Doom of Valyria. To make it work on television, HBO would have to be extremely creative and judicious about when it showed dragons and how many of them it could afford to give the sort of detailed treatment they get in House of the Dragon. And that’s not even taking into account the landscape and city-state of Valyria itself, which consists of shining towers set amidst smoking volcanoes, surrounded by the sea. Oh, and don’t forget the Valyrian sorcerers, who use magic way more freely than any culture we see in Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon.

Frankly, there are numerous ways that the budget for a Doom of Valyria series could become extremely high. However, scaling it back and focusing on an intimate story set within castle corridors, as House of the Dragon often does, might not be fair. This approach works well for House of the Dragon because its nature is an intimate family political drama, which takes place in a setting that audiences are already familiar with.

In Martin’s books, the Freehold, including the Doom of Valyria, hasn’t been thoroughly explored; our knowledge is limited to historical accounts. Since George R.R. Martin is currently focusing on writing ‘The Winds of Winter’, the sixth book in ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, it seems unlikely that we’ll learn more about the Doom. If a show about the Doom were to be made, it would likely be the first and potentially only chance for fans to see what the Valyrian Empire looked like at its peak. As such, a Doom of Valyria series might not be worthwhile if it doesn’t include depictions of Valyria itself; sticking to more familiar Westerosi locations might make more sense for HBO.

Opting for a Doom film rather than a TV series would significantly ease budgetary constraints. Instead of investing over eight to ten hours into television, HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery could allocate the same amount of funds into a two to three-hour movie. This approach would provide them with greater creative freedom to portray Valyria and its dragon armies in an awe-inspiring manner that matches their onscreen grandeur.

Why the Doom of Valyria would be a perfect lead-in to an Aegon the Conqueror show

It seems logical to propose that HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery might consider creating a Doom movie. However, I find it puzzling as to why they would connect it with an Aegon the Conqueror series, considering Aegon was not yet alive during the time of the Doom.

In much the same way as many things related to Westeros, the solution can be found in the original stories. Prior to the destruction of Valyria, the dragonlords constructed an outpost at a distant location, on the edge of a foreign land they desired: Westeros. This outpost was known as Dragonstone. The Valyrians themselves constructed the powerful Citadel here, from which Rhaenyra Targaryen would later launch her campaign for the Iron Throne in ‘House of the Dragon’.

In the golden age of Valyria, the Targaryens were merely one influential family among several, not particularly dominant. However, just prior to the Doom, a Targaryen named Daenys the Dreamer received a warning vision predicting impending catastrophe for the Freehold. Consequently, she and her father Aenar Targaryen embarked on a sea voyage towards Dragonstone, establishing a fresh start in a region barely within Valyria’s boundaries.

In time, Daenerys’ vision becomes reality as Valyria is destroyed. For several generations, the Targaryens reside on Dragonstone, accumulating power and forming alliances. It is during this period that Aegon emerges. He, along with his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys, are the great-great-great descendants of Daenerys the Visionary.

I could see it making total sense to do the Doom of Valyria as a film, then leave off with Daenys and the other Targaryens setting up shop on Dragonstone. Maybe one of them has a kid or two. And then, HBO could bring us back to Dragonstone with a television show to meet their descendants, Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys, as they set off to conquer Westeros. House of the Dragon has even introduced a new element to the story where it was a prophetic dream from Aegon which led to his campaign to unite Westeros, so there’s a strong parallel to be made between how Daenys’ dream saves the Targaryen family and how Aegon’s saves Westeros.

In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, they might compress the timeline dramatically, making Aegon Targaryen Daenerys’ son instead of vice versa. This narrative shift would conclude the “Doom of Valyria” movie with Aegon’s birth. While I’m not sure if this twist aligns well with the original source material, HBO could certainly devise creative ways to intertwine Aegon and the Doom more closely.

A Game of Thrones movie about Valyria could set up HBO's Aegon the Conqueror show

Don’t expect an official announcement about the Game of Thrones movie anytime soon

Currently, all this talk about the movie or Aegon the Conqueror series on HBO is just conjecture. I suspect they’ll move cautiously when making any formal announcements regarding these projects, considering there are already two Game of Thrones spinoffs in production. Launching a new one before House of the Dragon concludes might not be strategic, given that House of the Dragon reportedly started pre-production for its third season at the end of last month and is planned to run for only four seasons. So, the wait may not be too long.

Before delving into the upcoming “House of the Dragon,” HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery have another treat for fans of Westeros – “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” This series is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Dunk & Egg” novellas, which take place about 90 years before the events in “Game of Thrones.” Since dragons are extinct during that series, this show will offer a unique perspective compared to “House of the Dragon.” The first season, consisting of six episodes, is scheduled to premiere in 2025.

I personally think HBO should take its leisure with the upcoming film project. If they aim to depict the Destruction of Valyria accurately, there’s no need for haste. There are other engaging activities set in Westeros to keep us occupied in the interim.

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2024-11-08 18:42

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