George R.R. Martin Says The ‘Game of Thrones’ Book Ending Won’t be Same as HBO Series

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The finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones sparked a huge amount of debate among viewers, becoming one of the most talked-about endings in TV history. The show, originally based on George R.R. Martin’s book series, eventually moved beyond the published books. While showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss used outlines from Martin for the final season, many fans—and Martin himself—expressed disappointment with how it ended. Martin has repeatedly stated that the ending of his book series will differ from what viewers saw on television.

As I’ve mentioned before,” Martin told the audience at Oxford Union on January 23, 2026, “the books will have a different ending than the show. That much I can promise.” He was about to say something about the showrunners, Benioff and Weiss, but a wave of applause cut him off before he could explain further.

It’s been seven years since the final episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones, and almost fifteen years since the fifth book in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Dance with Dragons, came out. Because of the long wait, many fans are starting to wonder if Martin will ever finish the series.

Martin’s Regret

When speaking at the Oxford Union, Martin was asked if he had any regrets. He replied that his biggest regret was not having finished writing the books, explaining that he still needs to write two more to finish the series.

After selling the rights to HBO, George R.R. Martin had finished four books and felt he was making good headway on the fifth. He initially believed the show would never be able to keep pace with his lengthy novels. However, he admits, “They did,” and acknowledges a significant part of that was due to his own delays.

The interviewer asked Martin about the mixed reactions to the show’s final season and how it could have been better. Martin replied that he couldn’t discuss it, as that would reveal his future plans.

As a movie lover, I always think about how stories are built, and I recently came across this idea that there are two types of creators: architects and gardeners. I definitely relate to the gardener type! It means I don’t meticulously plan everything out from the start. Instead, I let the story develop naturally, almost like tending a garden. You pour your heart and soul – your ‘blood,’ as the author put it – into the work, and you just see what blossoms. Sometimes it thrives, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it grows in unexpected ways. It’s a much more organic process, and honestly, that’s how the best stories feel to me.

Martin hinted that his writing process might be slowing him down. He seems to feel that after Benioff and Weiss finished the TV series – mostly without his involvement – the ending he had in mind for the books began to change and diverge from their version.

Getting to “The End”

The final season of HBO’s Game of Thrones saw Daenerys turn into a cruel ruler and ultimately be killed by Jon Snow, paving the way for Brandon Stark to take the throne. If George R.R. Martin ever finishes his book series, its ending will inevitably be measured against the show’s conclusion, regardless of how much they differ.

Even at 77, with two books still to write, George R.R. Martin has admitted he might never finish the A Song of Ice and Fire series. He recently told The Hollywood Reporter, “People are saying I’ll never finish, and they might be right. I honestly don’t know.”

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2026-01-25 16:56