HBO has shut down development of the prequel series tentatively titled The Long Night, which was to be directed by S.J. Clarkson and star Naomi Watts (see "’GOT’ Prequel Director and Cast"), according to Deadline. The script for the pilot, set thousands of years before the Game of Thrones series, was in editing, according to the report. A pilot was ordered last year (see "HBO Orders Pilot for First ‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoff"), but now will not be produced.
Meanwhile HBO has ordered a 10-episode first season of House of the Dragon, a second Game of Thrones prequel based on the companion book Fire & Blood and focusing on the House of Targaryen, according to Variety. The series had been reported to be close to a pilot order (see "Second ‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoff"), but will now go straight to series instead. Miguel Sapochnik, who directed six episodes of Game of Thrones, including "Battle of the Bastards" and other key episodes, will direct the pilot and additional episodes, according to the report. Sapochnik and Ryan Condal, who co-created the series with George R. R. Martin, will serve as co-showrunners.
