MOVIE NEWS – The Game of Thrones universe is growing beyond the screen: a stage prequel titled Game of Thrones: The Mad King is on the way, zeroing in on Harrenhal and the reign that sealed Daenerys’ father’s fate.

This Monday we’ll say goodbye to the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and we already know it won’t be our last trip to Westeros – with the next chapter of House of the Dragon also set to bring us back in just a few months. George R. R. Martin’s world is still very much alive on TV, but it’s about to jump somewhere far less expected: the theatre.

Martin announced yesterday via The Hollywood Reporter that Game of Thrones: The Mad King will premiere at England’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The play will focus on the fateful Tourney at Harrenhal – the event that ignited Robert’s Rebellion and ultimately led to the downfall of Aerys II, the Mad King, and the end of House Targaryen’s rule. The production is also set to feature iconic figures such as Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon, and Jaime Lannister.

Of course, with a different cast than the one audiences know from the screen. The official synopsis published in the press reads:

“Step into the world of before. A long winter thaws at Harrenhal and the promise of spring glimmers. At a lavish feast on the eve of a jousting tourney, lovers reunite and revelers speculate about who will compete. But in the shadows, as anxiety grows over the realm’s ruthless Mad King’s bloodthirsty deeds, dissenters from his inner circle press ahead with a treacherous plot. In the distance, the drums of battle begin to sound.

Family bonds, ancient prophecies, and the sacred line of succession will be tested in a perilous campaign for power. Who will survive? Who will rise? Wars are not won by those who are most right, but by those whose story is told best.”

Martin Says Shakespeare Is Part of the Point

“When I first wrote Game of Thrones, I never imagined it would be anything other than a book. It was a place where my imagination could exist without limits. Having my work adapted for the stage now is something I didn’t expect, but I welcome it with enormous enthusiasm.

Theatre offers something unique: a place where my imagination and the audience’s can meet and, hopefully, create something magical,” Martin said, reflecting on how far the saga has come since its beginnings, and on the fact that it is now linked to William Shakespeare, “the greatest name in English literature, and a constant source of inspiration for me and my writing.”

The expectation is that this story will explore the true nature of authority through the lens of young people grappling with inherited identities, continuing the saga’s tradition of power, ambition, and succession politics. Only this time it won’t arrive through HBO Max, but on a stage. Performances are planned from this summer, with tickets going on sale in April. And if it’s a hit, don’t be surprised if Warner Bros. eventually looks at bringing it to streaming – or even to the big screen.

Source: 3DJuegos