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George R.R. Martin says finishing work on The Winds of Winter is “still a priority”

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George R.R. Martin says finishing work on The Winds of Winter is "still a priority"

As a lifelong cinephile who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless cinematic sagas, I find myself both saddened and intrigued by George R.R. Martin’s current endeavors. On one hand, it’s heartening to see him honor his dear friend Harold Waldrop in such a meaningful way, adapting his short stories into films that celebrate their unique charm. On the other, I can’t help but worry about the progress on “The Winds of Winter,” the long-awaited sixth book in Martin’s epic series.

George R.R. Martin, the writer behind “A Song of Ice and Fire,” discussed with The Hollywood Reporter his project to create short films based on the work of fellow author Harold Waldrop, a longtime friend who recently passed away. While this is touching, what really piques people’s interest about George R.R. Martin is an update on the progress of “The Winds of Winter,” the much-anticipated sixth book in his series that served as the basis for HBO’s hit show “Game of Thrones.

Martin jokingly commented, “Regrettably, I’ve been 13 years behind schedule,” (the final book in his series, A Dance With Dragons, was published in 2011). “Every time I say that, I can’t help but think, ‘How could it be 13 years late?’ It just happens one day at a time.

But that’s still a priority. A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They’re saying] ‘Oh, he’ll never be finished.’ Maybe they’re right. I don’t know. I’m alive right now! I seem pretty vital!

Martin himself mentions that retiring is not in his plans, humorously stating that he’s “not a golfer.” While some media outlets have interpreted this as “George R.R. Martin admits he’ll never finish ‘The Winds of Winter'” it seems a bit misleading. Although he might never complete the book, his joke suggests that he intends to work diligently on it to the best of his ability.

George R.R. Martin believes Hollywood should make “faithful” adaptations of books

Meanwhile, Martin has been providing advice for some of the Game of Thrones spinoff productions HBO has been developing. Notably, earlier this year, he voiced his criticisms towards the makers of the prequel series House of the Dragon, which has been increasingly straying from its original source material – George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.

Martin shared his thoughts on modifying original content for the screen during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. While the discussion is specifically about adapting Howard Waldrop’s stories, it’s hard not to draw parallels with his recent concerns regarding the adaptation of ‘House of the Dragon’.

Maybe I’m one of the few people in Hollywood who still thinks that when you adapt a work of art, a novel, a short story, you should do a faithful adaptation. [It] annoys me too much because they change things and I don’t think they generally improve them.

Next year, a new series inspired by George R.R. Martin’s “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas, titled “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” is set to premiere on HBO – a project that seems to resonate more with Martin’s preferences compared to the previous “Game of Thrones” series.

George R.R. Martin tries to get more exposure for his fellow writer Howard Waldrop

Let’s revisit the topic of Waldrop. Martin has personally invested in creating adaptations of stories such as “Night of the Cooters”, “Mary-Margaret Road Grader”, and “The Ugly Chickens”. These tales revolve around a professor (portrayed by Felicia Day) embarking on a journey to discover a real dodo bird, an animal believed to have been extinct for centuries. As Martin stated, “I think the environmentalism is the key aspect here. However, the story itself is entertaining. When you read Howard’s story, you’ll find out much more about dodos than you ever thought you needed to know.

The film titled “The Ugly Chickens” has been nominated for the Best Short Film category at the HollyShorts Film Festival, with its creator Martin harboring aspirations that it might also contend for an Oscar. Martin expresses his hope that these films will draw more readers to Howard Waldrop’s work, as he boasts a vast collection of books and short stories. If these 30-minute shorts generate sufficient revenue, they could potentially inspire the production of more such projects. Howard has penned at least 100 captivating and unique tales, all worth sharing.

Martin managed to share an early version of his short film titled “The Ugly Chickens” with Waldrop just before he passed away. “I was delighted that he really enjoyed it,” Martin recalls. “I told him, ‘We’re almost done now. We still have a few post-production tasks left, but we’ll definitely show it to you.’ Unfortunately, that never came to pass as Waldrop passed six days later after viewing the rough cut.

Martin’s feelings are evident as he recounts his longstanding friendship with Waldrop, which began when they were teenagers exchanging letters about comic books across vast distances. Their conversation has remained constant throughout their lives. Martin expresses that he deeply cares for Waldrop and still misses him. He describes Waldrop as the oldest friend he had in the realm of science fiction and fantasy.

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2024-12-06 07:41

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