I Need Game of Thrones’ New Movie To Include the Biggest Retcon to the Books

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The world of Game of Thrones is expanding to the big screen with a new movie, Aegon’s Conquest. The film will address some previously changed story details to create a cohesive narrative. Written by Beau Willimon (known for House of Cards and Andor), it will depict how Aegon Targaryen and his sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya, used their dragons to conquer and unite Westeros – events that happened roughly 300 years before the stories of Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow.

Originally, Mattson Tomlin, a writer for The Batman, created this story as a TV series. Later, Willimon began developing it as a movie (though it’s uncertain if the TV series will still happen). Warner Bros. likely chose this as the first Game of Thrones film because it focuses on the Targaryen family and features three enormous dragons, including the legendary Balerion the Black Dread – the largest Westeros has ever known. It promises to be a visually stunning experience, and I plan to see it in IMAX on opening day. However, I think one change to the story could make it even better.

Aegon’s Conquest Isn’t That Interesting A Story

Aegon’s Conquest sets the stage for the next 300 years, marking the beginning of the Targaryen dynasty and the creation of the Seven Kingdoms as we see them in the shows. However, beyond the key historical events, the story itself isn’t particularly captivating. The main issue is the overwhelming power imbalance: with the exception of Dorne, which successfully defended itself using mountains and unconventional warfare, no kingdom could effectively resist the Targaryens and their dragons.

There isn’t much suspense in this story – we already know Aegon wins, and his journey to power is relatively straightforward. He simply conquers kingdom after kingdom, with rulers either surrendering or facing defeat. While a movie adaptation would likely be visually stunning and grand in scope, it also risks becoming predictable and losing the audience’s interest due to the repetitive nature of the conquests.

Aegon’s Dream Makes The Conquest More Interesting

One problem with the story of Aegon’s Conquest is that it focuses heavily on ambition and the pursuit of power – themes already central to the world of A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones. However, these themes aren’t as compellingly explored in this particular narrative. This is largely because the Conquest itself was successful, Aegon faced little opposition, and he remains a somewhat mysterious figure, resulting in a lack of depth. Aegon’s dream, often referred to as his ‘Song of Ice and Fire,’ offers a potential way to add more complexity.

In the first episode of House of the Dragon, Aegon had a prophetic dream about a devastating winter and the end of humankind. The dream revealed that only a member of the Targaryen family could save the realm. Essentially, Aegon foresaw the threat of the White Walkers, which was a major reason he set out to conquer Westeros—though his own ambition was also a factor.

Even though House of the Dragon has altered some parts of George R.R. Martin’s original stories, I particularly appreciate this new addition. It wasn’t featured in either the books or Game of Thrones, but Martin himself actually came up with the idea – he even suggested it in a 2018 YouTube video.

Regarding the Conquest storyline, I appreciate how it deepens our understanding of Aegon’s motivations for coming to Westeros. It portrays him not as simply power-hungry, but as someone who believes he’s acting on a divine purpose. This makes him a strangely compelling character – a flawed savior convinced he must do anything to achieve what he sees as humanity’s salvation, and weighed down by the burden of his own destiny. The story doesn’t have to justify his actions, but it does make him a much more nuanced and interesting figure.

Aegon’s Conquest Movie Also Needs Multiple Perspectives

Beyond including Aegon’s dream, I’d like to see the upcoming movie about Aegon’s Conquest shift its perspective. Currently, the story is presented as a historical account, drawn from sources like Fire & Blood. A movie will likely show events unfolding in real-time, making Aegon a natural choice for the main character. This could help develop him and other figures like Vienya, Rhaenys, and Orys Baratheon, giving us a deeper look into their experiences.

The story could be even more compelling if it showed us the perspectives of those who were conquered by Aegon. Exploring the motivations of leaders like Torrhen Stark, and also seeing how ordinary soldiers and citizens reacted, would add depth. It would be fascinating to contrast how the nobility viewed Aegon with how those who saw him as an overwhelming, frightening force – perhaps even a mythical creature, considering they’d never encountered a dragon – perceived him. This approach would enrich the story beyond what we already know, giving the film a more powerful narrative to complement its impressive visuals and scope.

A release date for Game of Thrones: Aegon’s Conquest hasn’t been announced yet. You can currently watch Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon on HBO Max.

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2026-04-24 21:11