Game Of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has addressed his “competitive” nature as he prepares for House Of The Dragon to vie with The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power.
The writer, who has also served as a producer/consultant on HBO‘s Game Of Thrones and its forthcoming prequel series House Of The Dragon, said in a new interview that he hopes that if The Rings Of Power “win six Emmys, and I hope they do, I hope we win seven”.
Martin told The Independent that he wishes both shows will succeed because he supports more epic fantasy being shown on screen.
He said: “I know a lot of articles, the minute the dates were announced, it’s, ‘Oh, the battle for fantasy supremacy. It’s Rings Of Power versus House Of Dragon, who will win?’ I don’t know why they always have to do that.
“I hope both shows succeed. I’m competitive enough. I hope we succeed more. If they win six Emmys, and I hope they do, I hope we win seven. But nonetheless, it’s good for fantasy. I love fantasy. I love science fiction. I want more shows on television.”
House Of The Dragon is set 200 years before events in the flagship HBO series and is based Martin’s novel Fire & Blood. It follows the Targaryen family during the Dance of the Dragons – a civil war among House Targaryen for the Iron Throne.
The Game Of Thrones spin-off is set to premiere on August 21 via HBO Max in the US. It will be simulcast on Sky Atlantic/NOW in the UK on August 22.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, meanwhile, is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings. The Amazon Studios-produced series follows an ensemble cast of characters as they confront the re-emergence of evil in Middle-earth.
The Rings Of Power premieres on Amazon Prime Video on September 2, 2022, with episodes following weekly.
In other related news, a new trailer has been released for House Of The Dragon. It sets the stage for the conflict as various houses swear allegiance to King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) and his named successor, his firstborn child Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy).