In case you hadn't heard, a "Game of Thrones" movie has been greenlit, with "House of Cards" creator and "Andor" writer Beau Willimon penning the screenplay and Warner Bros. producing.
Warner Bros. has now confirmed that "Game of Thrones: Aegon's Conquest," the first movie set in the fictional world of Westeros, is scheduled for release on June 1, 2029. Owen Harris ("A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms") will direct the film from a screenplay by Willimon.
The story is reported to center on Aegon I, the Targaryen ruler who founded the dynasty. The Targaryens have long been the backbone of HBO's entire ‘Thrones’ universe, beginning with Daenerys Targaryen, portrayed by Emilia Clarke, and her relentless quest for the Iron Throne in the original series. The prequel "House of the Dragon" unfolds during the height of Targaryen power, while the more recent "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" explores the early years of Aegon "Egg" Targaryen.
Harris is a British director best known for his work on "Black Mirror," where he helmed the Emmy-winning "San Junipero” episode. He has also directed the pilot and four more episodes of Peacock's "Mrs. Davis," from Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez, directed the first two episodes of "Brave New World," and made the feature "Kill Your Friends." But his most relevant credit is "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," where he served as executive producer and lead director, helming episodes 1, 2, and 5.
This “Game of Thrones” movie will surely have a big budget, which makes me wonder why Warner Bros. decided to give full responsibility to a TV director.
Of course, the pending Paramount–Warner Bros. merger adds some uncertainty once David Ellison steps in as head honcho. Still, his well-known enthusiasm for major IP suggests he would likely back the project, especially given the enormous recent success of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" on HBO.
Right now, barely any films are dated for 2029. As far as I know, only Disney/Pixar's "Coco 2" (November 21) and Disney/20th Century Studios' "Avatar 4" (December 21) have claimed spots, and I doubt the latter will stay on the schedule. Warner Bros. obviously has high hopes for the first "Game of Thrones" theatrical movie, as that June date lands smack dab in the thick of summer movie season.
Chris Hemsworth, who originally had the lead role, has dropped out of Danny McBride’s “G.I. Joe” reboot, for undisclosed reasons, and been replaced by Bradley Cooper.