‘Game of Thrones’ Creator George R.R. Martin Admits to “Abysmal” Relationship With ‘House of the Dragon’ Showrunner

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George R.R. Martin, author of the books that led to shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, has publicly stated that his working relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal is extremely strained. While Martin has often voiced his disagreements with how the franchise has evolved, he seems particularly unhappy with the prequel and hasn’t been shy about expressing his dissatisfaction.

George R.R. Martin recently discussed the future of the Game of Thrones universe in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Following Game of Thrones, HBO premiered House of the Dragon, which has been renewed for a third season. Now, the network is preparing to launch another prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This means Martin will continue to work with HBO for the foreseeable future.

It appears there’s tension surrounding House of the Dragon. When questioned about his difficult relationship with the show’s creator, George R.R. Martin suggests things are even more strained and explains why.

Things went downhill fast. It was terrible, honestly. I brought Ryan on board, and we had a good working relationship throughout the first season. I’d review early versions of the scripts, offer feedback, and he’d make adjustments. I really believed it was a successful collaboration – at the time.

During the second season, he started ignoring my feedback. I’d offer suggestions, but they weren’t implemented. He’d occasionally explain why, but often just said he’d consider them without ever following through. This became increasingly frustrating. Eventually, HBO advised me to send all my notes to them, and they would consolidate them with Ryan’s before sharing.

The Blog Post That Started the Fire

The second season of House of the Dragon premiered in June 2024, and shortly after, George R.R. Martin published a blog post that significantly altered his working relationship with the show’s creators. Although Martin had previously been vocal about his opinions, this post was particularly critical. While he offered some positive feedback, his strong disagreement with the show’s creative choices was the main focus. The post was eventually removed, but Martin now admits he regrets not reinstating it, stating it would have made him appear foolish.

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Earlier this year, Entertainment Weekly spoke with Ryan Condal about the criticism surrounding George R.R. Martin’s blog post, and Condal shared his perspective. He described Martin’s post as “disappointing,” but also expressed deep respect for the author. Condal said working on the show has been a highlight of his career and life, especially as a longtime science fiction and fantasy fan. He emphasized Martin’s importance as a literary icon and a personal inspiration that significantly shaped his development as a writer.



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I truly did my best to involve George in bringing this to life. I worked with him for years, and I always felt like we had a really good, productive partnership. We enjoyed collaborating for a long time, and I valued that relationship.

Eventually, as things progressed, he became unwilling to address the real, practical problems in a sensible manner. I’m hoping George and I can find our way back to a good working relationship, but that’s all I have to say on the matter.

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2026-01-16 23:48