Screenwriter Brian Helgeland reveals new information about the story and universe of Ten Thousand Ships, a Game of Thrones TV series spin-off he was developing for HBO, but that never came to fruition.
An Aborted Game of Thrones Spin-Off
Brian Helgeland unveils details about the unsuccessful spin-off project of the popular series Game of Thrones, which never materialized. Following the conclusion of the original series in 2019, several spin-offs were announced, including one named Ten Thousand Ships, which was supposed to follow the adventures of Nymeria Martell.
A Standalone Story for Ten Thousand Ships
In a recent interview with Inverse, Brian Helgeland provides more insights into this aborted spin-off. Ten Thousand Ships would have represented a significant departure from the main series, possibly explaining why HBO did not pursue the project:
My script was based on Queen Nymeria and a brief mention of her in a Westeros encyclopedia. Essentially, it was the story of Moses, but with Nymeria in his place. Her country is destroyed, and her people are forced to live on the water, hence the title of the series, Ten Thousand Ships. They end up having to leave and seek a new promised land, similar to the Israelites leaving Egypt. She leads this entire people, trying to maintain unity as they sail around a fictional version of the Mediterranean in search of a new home. Their life was nomadic, living in a floating city.
Sometimes the characters would come ashore, but they would eventually be driven away as they sought a promised land. I met with George R.R. Martin to present the idea, which he approved. Unfortunately, I didn’t work more closely with him, but I would have liked to if the series had been picked up. It was a bit like Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad films mixed with the Odyssey. In a way, Nymeria is Ulysses, but instead of a crew of 12, she is responsible for every citizen of this floating city-state. My work is still there if HBO wants to pick it up. I enjoyed the time spent developing it, and you never know.
And the Other Game of Thrones Spin-Offs?
To date, only one Game of Thrones spin-off has actually materialized: House of the Dragon, aired in 2022, has received positive reviews and been highly successful with viewers. The series was popular enough to be renewed by HBO, and Season 2 of House of the Dragon is scheduled for this summer.
Another spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, is currently in development and expected to air on the American channel HBO by late 2025. As for Ten Thousand Ships, while it doesn’t seem to be making progress, Brian Helgeland hints that it’s not completely out of the picture.
What Do We Think?
It’s always disappointing to see a promising project fail to materialize. However, it’s important to respect the original vision of a work and not stray too far from it. That being said, the concept of Ten Thousand Ships remains intriguing and could offer a new perspective on the Game of Thrones universe. Only time will tell if HBO decides to give this project a second chance.