George R.R. Martin Slams Writers Adapting His Books: “They Do Not Improve It”

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George R.R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire series, has once again voiced his concerns regarding screen adaptations and writers in the midst of an apparent disagreement with ‘House of the Dragon’ showrunner Ryan Condal. In a recent blog post after Season 2 concluded, Martin criticized the show, and Condal recently confirmed that they are no longer collaborating closely. Earlier this month, Martin participated in a speaking event with fellow author Joe Abercrombie during his book tour for ‘The Devils’. The upcoming movie adaptation of the novel has already been announced, but Martin cautioned Abercrombie about the challenging process of transforming written words to screen. This comes after a passionate blog post from Martin about the long-awaited book, ‘The Winds of Winter’.

Martin reiterated his view that screenwriters hired for adaptations often receive too much creative liberty, with the aim to put their unique stamp on the work. As he expressed in a video shared by YouTuber Becca Monet, “In many instances where a Hollywood screenwriter personalizes a project, it doesn’t enhance it. I believe more often than not, it actually detracts from it.

Martin advised Abercrombie that one of the trickiest aspects of having books transformed into movies is handling other writers’ input, even though their situations differ significantly. Interestingly, Abercrombie will be collaborating with James Cameron on the film version of “The Devils“, as Cameron obtained the rights to the book for his production company. Noteworthy, Abercrombie’s “First Law” series has not yet reached the stage of a TV adaptation, despite numerous fans expressing their desire for it.

Regarding Martin, it’s unexpected how harshly he’s criticized House of the Dragon, given his more cautious approach towards Game of Thrones earlier. The adaptation of Martin’s epic series, A Song of Ice and Fire, was frequently criticized for its rushed and underwhelming conclusion, with a significant portion of the criticism directed at the showrunners and writers. Unlike his past complaints about specific changes in the show, Martin took a more general and critical stance against House of the Dragon last year.

Martin published a well-known blog entry, titled “Beware the Butterflies,” discussing Season 2. This article was taken down shortly after it went live. In this piece, he explored the concept of the “butterfly effect” in storytelling, using one specific change as an illustration. Although the post hinted at other changes that displeased him, this was merely one topic he felt comfortable delving into extensively. The article contained numerous spoilers, and by combining these with Martin’s original work, fans were able to deduce several other potential issues he might be grappling with.

In March, Condal addressed all these criticisms during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He stated, “I went to great lengths to involve George in the adaptation process. However, as we progressed further, he seemed increasingly reluctant to address the practical concerns realistically. I believe, as a showrunner, I must balance my pragmatic producer side and my creative writer/passionate fan side.

In typical fashion, discussions surrounding George R.R. Martin’s work continue to be colored by fan impatience over the long-awaited release of his next book, “The Winds of Winter,” and the ongoing saga of finishing the series “A Song of Ice and Fire.” Recently, Martin has even responded to online criticism on this topic. As for when we might see “The Winds of Winter,” that remains uncertain, but fans can still enjoy the series up to this point in print, digital, or audio formats.

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2025-06-04 20:09