Game of Thrones Directing Heartbreak Revealed By Rian Johnson 13 Years Later

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Rian Johnson has experienced both successes and setbacks as a filmmaker, and one opportunity that continues to linger in his mind is the chance to direct an episode of “Game of Thrones.” Johnson maintains a friendly relationship with showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and he had aspired to helm an installment of their popular fantasy series during its run. In a chat with Rolling Stone, Johnson recounted a near-miss where he nearly got the job, but it ultimately didn’t work out. Despite not dwelling on the missed opportunity due to his many other professional blessings, when asked about regrets, it’s still the project that comes to mind for him.

In this interview, Johnson reflected on his entire career as Poker Face Season 2 came to a close. He reminisced about both TV and movie roles, mentioning “Ozymandias” from Breaking Bad as a significant milestone in his career. Regrettably, he expressed disappointment at not being able to reprise his role for the prequel series, Better Call Saul. Interestingly, when it came to other opportunities he had to decline, he immediately brought up Game of Thrones.

During a specific period, Dan [Weiss] and Dave [Benioff] were working on “Game of Thrones.” Typically, they film episodes in chunks, which requires a six-month or so commitment. However, there was an exception – a standalone episode – where I wondered if it could work out, but ultimately it didn’t. There are times when disappointments occur, but who knows how long I’ll be able to keep up the work I’m doing?

In an interview with The Playlist back in July 2012, Johnson hinted at which episode he was referring to when discussing Game of Thrones, but it remains unclear. He mentioned that if he hadn’t been occupied editing his movie Looper at the time, he would have worked on an episode during Season 2. Since Game of Thrones premiered in 2011 and Season 2 aired from April 1 to June 3, 2012, it’s possible that Johnson was referring to either half of the season. The major events in those episodes included Daenerys’ dragon birth and the Battle of the Blackwater, but it’s also plausible that Johnson could have joined for a more character-focused storyline instead.

It’s intriguing to ponder how different the episodes of Game of Thrones might have been if they were directed by Terry George. The show is known for using a small group of directors on rotation due to its challenging filming conditions. In the first two seasons alone, Tim Van Patten, Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan, Alan Taylor, Alik Sakharov, David Petrarca, David Nutter, and Neil Marshall all directed multiple episodes. Terry George, along with Alik Sakharov and Neil Marshall, was one of the few who only directed one episode each – specifically, “What Is Dead May Never Die” in Season 2, Episode 3, and “Blackwater” in Season 2, Episode 9. These two episodes are strong candidates for the one Terry George might have been referring to as a stand-out piece of work.

It’s unfortunate to contemplate the possibilities he could have explored, but it’s a relief that Johnson passed on this chance to focus on other esteemed projects. Meanwhile, “Game of Thrones” thrived without him. Yet, there might be a return for Johnson in Westeros; the spinoff series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is set to air in 2026, followed by season 3 of “House of the Dragon” later in the year. Additionally, numerous other shows are in the pipeline at HBO.

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2025-07-14 19:41