Upcoming Game Of Thrones From The Creator Of A Fantasy Masterpiece Will Change The Franchise Forever

by

As a huge fantasy fan, I’m really excited about the new Game of Thrones show! They’ve brought in the creator of another series I adore, and I have a feeling this spinoff is going to be a game-changer for the whole franchise. There have been a lot of fantasy shows over the years, but honestly, Game of Thrones really stood out and left a huge impression on the genre.

The franchise has only continued to grow since the original series debuted. Two spinoffs have been released, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The former has two seasons with a third on the way, and the first season of the latter just came out.

HBO is working on several potential Game of Thrones spinoffs, but it’s important to remember that not all of them will necessarily be made. While many are still early in development, a few are further along and seem more promising. One of these is a show focusing on the Sea Snake, which has been planned for about four years.

Genndy Tartakovsky Is Reportedly Attached To A Sea Snake Spinoff

Talk of a TV series about a young Corlys Velaron, better known as the Sea Snake, and his nine famous journeys began in early 2021. Initially called Nine Voyages, the idea was very popular with fans who loved the character and saw lots of potential for the story.

A year after the initial announcement, author George R.R. Martin shared on his blog, Not A Blog, that the show was still being developed. He explained that it was temporarily titled The Sea Snake to differentiate it from other Game of Thrones spin-offs that include numbers in their titles, as the project was originally known as Ten Thousand Ships.

In December 2023, George R.R. Martin shared on his blog, Not A Blog, that the planned live-action series about the Sea Snake would now be an animated show and retitled Nine Voyages. He explained this change in format was due to creative decisions.

We’ve decided to switch “Nine Voyages,” our series about the Sea Snake’s adventures, from a live-action show to animation, and I think it’s the right call. Filming a live-action version would have been incredibly expensive, especially since so much of the story takes place at sea and requires a new port city each week – places like Driftmark, Lys, the Basilisk Isles, Volantis, Qarth, and many more. There’s a vast world to depict, and animation gives us a much better opportunity to showcase it all. We currently have three animated projects in development.

Information about the project has been limited, but on January 30, 2026, Deadline reported that Genndy Tartakovsky is working on the animated Sea Snake spinoff. However, Casey Bloys, the head of HBO and HBO Max, wouldn’t discuss projects still in development, so this news hasn’t been officially confirmed.

Genndy Tartakovsky is an ideal addition to this project, thanks to his impressive career. He’s the creative force behind beloved Cartoon Network shows like Samurai Jack, Primal, Star Wars: Clone Wars, and Dexter’s Laboratory. He also played a key role as a producer and director on Powerpuff Girls. His outstanding work has earned him numerous accolades, including five Primetime Emmy Awards.

  • The 2021 Emmy for Outstanding Animated Project for Primal
  • The 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for Primal
  • The 2005 Emmy for Outstanding Animated Project (For Programming One Hour or More) for Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 2
  • The 2005 Emmy for 2005 Emmy for Outstanding Animated Project (For Programming One Hour or More) for Samurai Jack
  • The 2005 Emmy for Outstanding Animated Project (For Programming One Hour or More) for Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 1

Genndy Tartakovsky’s shows have a lasting impact, remaining popular and talked about long after they first air. They’re known for being both intelligent and visually impressive. Many critics and fans consider Samurai Jack a true fantasy classic, and its beautifully animated, expertly choreographed action could greatly enhance the Nine Voyages TV show.

Nine Voyages Would Be The First Animated Game Of Thrones Spinoff

George R.R. Martin has revealed that three animated Game of Thrones series are currently being developed. Initially, there were four potential animated projects, but two have been cancelled. The Hollywood Reporter reported in 2021 that one idea involved a show set in the Golden Empire of Yi Ti, though it’s unknown if that specific show is still in production.

Besides the previously mentioned shows, there’s Nine Voyages, which is unique because its name and details have been made public. This suggests it will likely be the first animated Game of Thrones spin-off. Before this, the only animated Game of Thrones project was a short feature called Game of Thrones: Conquest & Rebellion: An Animated History of the Seven Kingdoms.

If Nine Voyages does well, it might help decide if the other two animated shows should also be made, but that’s just my guess.

Animation Is The Perfect Medium To Expand The Game Of Thrones Universe

The world of Game of Thrones on TV faces challenges in continuing storylines. It’s been fifteen years since the original series finished, meaning the actors have either aged or taken on different roles. The show’s success has also significantly boosted the careers of its cast members.

The creators of any future Game of Thrones projects need to think about whether the original actors will be available. Emilia Clarke, for instance, has said she doesn’t want to work in the fantasy genre again, meaning they’d have to find someone else to play Daenerys Targaryen for any new live-action shows, which could disappoint viewers. Luckily, animation offers a way to explore more stories within the Game of Thrones world without those limitations.

Filmmakers wouldn’t need to consider whether actors are free, look the part, or even want to participate. They could just obtain rights to use an actor’s image and hire someone else to do the voice work. Or, they could design characters to perfectly match how they’re described in the books, without needing to find an actor who looks the part.

Animation also helps HBO create more content without spending as much money. Although animation can be costly, for shows like Game of Thrones, using animation would actually be cheaper than filming with live actors.

Each season of the original Game of Thrones cost between $50 and $100 million to produce, making it one of the priciest TV shows ever made. House of the Dragon‘s first season saw a significant increase, costing around $200 million. However, the newest spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, lowered the budget to approximately $60 million per season.

Compared to other shows, Arcane was the most expensive animated TV series ever made, with a total cost of around $250 million for its first two seasons. Interestingly, it reached that price point because it was created by a video game company, not a traditional Hollywood animation studio—which would have likely resulted in lower production costs (according to Collider).

Even if Game of Thrones decided to produce seasons with similar animation quality to the original show, the cost would be comparable. However, it’s more probable the cost would be closer to that of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, according to an analysis of animated show production costs by Animation Iconic.

For a series like Game of Thrones, continuing with animation is a much more practical long-term solution, and it allows for far more creative possibilities than sticking only to live-action. HBO could create several additional shows and even revisit familiar characters.

Read More

2026-02-01 04:20