George R.R. Martin writing new Game of Thrones play that will bring back dead characters

Game of Thrones
(Image credit: HBO)

George R.R. Martin is developing a brand new Game of Thrones play set to head to Broadway sometime in the future. 

It's been confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter that the play will see the return of beloved characters, with its focus on the Great Tourney. Unlike the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, the play could seemingly bring back characters including Ned Stark, Lyanna Stark, Jaime Lannister, Lord Robert Baratheon, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince Oberyn Martell, Ser Barristan Selmy, and more. 

In the A Song of Ice and Fire books, the Great Tourney was held over 10 days and was considered a huge competition in Westeros history, with all the aforementioned characters playing a part. 

George R.R. Martin himself weighed in on the upcoming project as well. “The seeds of war are often planted in times of peace,” Martin noted. “Few in Westeros knew the carnage to come when highborn and smallfolk alike gathered at Harrenhal to watch the finest knights of the realm compete in a great tourney, during the Year of the False Spring. It is a tourney oft referred during HBO's Game of Thrones, and in my novels, A Song of Ice & Fire … and now, at last, we can tell the whole story... on the stage.”

The official synopsis of the play details that "the production will boast a story centered around love, vengeance, madness, and the dangers of dealing in prophecy, in the process revealing secrets and lies that have only been hinted at until now."

The Game of Thrones play is expected to arrive in New York, London's West End, and in Australia initially, with a launch date scheduled for some time in 2023. In other news, George R.R. Martin has signed a five-year deal with HBO.

Streaming Editor at IGN

Amelia is now the Streaming Editor for IGN, but formerly worked for What To Watch, and GamesRadar. She writes about all things TV and movies. 

Read more
A screenshot from the reveal trailer for Game of Thrones: Kingsroad.
If you thought George R.R. Martin was late with Winds of Winter, you won't be ready for the Game of Thrones mobile spin-off set during a season that aired 10 years ago
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg and Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
George R.R. Martin has high praise for the next Game of Thrones spin-off: "It's as faithful as adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for"
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon showrunner says season 3 will introduce something from George R. R. Martin's books that Game of Thrones left out: "I just thought it was cool"
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms first look
After George RR Martin praised the next Game of Thrones spin-off, HBO is gearing up to give it another two seasons, as a "promising" Targaryen spin-off is also teased
Elden Ring
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin says "there is some talk about making a movie out of Elden Ring" but admits there's a big novel-sized block in his way
George R.R. Martin
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has a new update on The Winds of Winter: "I wish it would come faster"
Latest in Fantasy Shows
George R.R. Martin
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has a new update on The Winds of Winter: "I wish it would come faster"
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg and Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO boss says new Game of Thrones spin-off's battles "match" the mainline series at a "fraction of the price"
Abubakar Salim in House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon season 3's opening battle is "beastly", according to one of the show's stars
Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things
The Rings of Power newcomer Jamie Campbell Bower has 'revealed' his season 3 character – but it could be a Sauron-style misdirect
Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things 4
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 adds Stranger Things star and Eddie Marsan to cast
Jeff Goldblum in Kaos
Jeff Goldblum's fantasy series Kaos was Netflix's most-watched cancelled show of late 2024
Latest in News
Overwatch 2
My hopes for an Overwatch anime or Diablo horror movie are going strong as Blizzard president points out "we are Blizzard Entertainment, and not simply Blizzard Games"
The New Thunderbolts leaping into action
Marvel's New Thunderbolts* comic steals the MCU's asterisk, and the reason why is just as big of a mystery
Pokemon Go players brace for the worst as Niantic is sold off for $3.5 billion: "This game is entering its death knell"
Stamp PSP
A 16-year-old pitch for a newly discovered first-party PSP game has me mourning the death of PlayStation's Japan Studio all over again
Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor Neil Newbon says he "got rid of" agents who deliberately kept him away from video game gigs: "They just didn't want me to do it"
Mass Effect
Jennifer Hale says she didn't see a single line as Mass Effect's Commander Shepard until it was time to record: "It was all cold reading on the spot"