HBO Axes ‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoff After Spending $30 Million On Pilot Starring Naomi Watts

As a new book detailing the history of HBO was released on Tuesday, Nov. 23, a pilot spin-off for the HBO hit series "Game of Thrones" has been scrapped in spite of its pricey $30 million price tag as the studio axed its full series order.

Bob Greenblatt, who was a former executive and chairman of WarnerMedia entertainment, said that a prospective spin-off series focused on the ancestors of the Stark and Lannister families has been scrapped after an expensive $30-million TV pilot was deemed unsatisfactory, according to the New York Post.

The pilot for the series was made by Jane Goldman, who had written such hit films as the first two "Kingsman" movies as well as "X-Men: First Class" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past." The series was due to star Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts, the Independent reported.

“They had spent over $30 million on a Game of Thrones prequel pilot that was in production when I got there,” Greenblatt said, regarding the project. "And when I saw a cut of it in a few months after I arrived, I said to [HBO’s chief content officer Casey Bloys], ‘This just doesn’t work and I don’t think it delivers on the promise of the original series.’ And he didn’t disagree, which actually was a relief.”

After that costly decision, Greenblatt encouraged executives to give a full series order for any future spin-offs of the hit franchise, saying that they could avoid a costly pilot if a full season is made instead.

“I’m the one who encouraged Casey to greenlight [the upcoming spin-off] to series,” Greenblatt said. “I said, ‘Let’s not risk $30 million on a pilot.’ So I said, ‘Let’s not make a pilot. Let’s get a great series that we feel good about, and just make it. Or not.”

The first official spin-off of the franchise, "House of the Dragon," is a prequel that will be focused on the Targaryens. It stars former "Doctor Who" actor Matt Smith and will be released in 2022 on HBO Max.

Other spin-offs centered around "Tales of Dunk and Egg" as well as characters like Princess Nymeria and Corlys Velaryon are also being developed, according to Entertainment Weekly.