Before tackling the ambitious series “The Three-Body Problem” for Netflix, David Benioff and DB Weiss were approached by HBO to be credited in the credits of the new Games of Thrones series. Which they refused.
Game of Thrones is one of the series whose ending was mostly controversial when it was released in 2019. When David Benioff and DB Weiss ended the legendary show, many assumed that they had deliberately rushed the series towards a quick conclusion, even though they had stated since season two that they planned to produce about 7 seasons (they produced 8) – whether that was ultimately the best strategy or not.
Another common hypothesis was that they abandoned Game Of Thrones to earn more money elsewhere. However, one of their decisions – little publicized – goes directly against this theory.
Indeed, as creators of the series, David Benioff And DB Weiss were contractually guaranteed producer credits on all future spin-offs, prequels or other derivatives of Game Of Thrones, which would have assured them a lifetime of financial benefits even if they were not linked to these future programs, like House of the Dragon for example. But they refused, as they revealed in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“HBO was a little confused“, has explained David Benioff. “I remember their lawyer telling them, ‘But it’s just about the money, we just want to pay you.’”
DB Weiss added: “I don’t think free money exists. For us, if our name is there, especially since, even though we were completely detached and not very involved, we had the impression that the tension that would come with this hands-off approach – with its success or its failure or in between – n It wasn’t worth it.”
And no, they didn’t watch either House of the Dragon. DB Weiss recently reviewed Game Of Thrones with his family, but does not want to think about his outcome. David Benioffhe has not watched a single episode since its end.
The first season of Game of Thrones as well as that of House of the Dragon can currently be watched in streaming on Prime Video via the Warner Pass. The rest of the original series is available on VOD.