Brian Helgeland, a writer who worked on a ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff that was sanctioned by George R.R. Martin but not picked up by HBO, recently discussed the reasons behind its cancellation. The series, tentatively titled ‘10,000 Ships,’ was based on Queen Nymeria’s tale, a character from Martin’s fictional realm of Westeros.
Helgeland’s script for ‘10,000 Ships’ drew inspiration from Nymeria’s journey from Essos to Dorne, paralleling it to the biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and the epic odyssey of Odysseus in Homer’s ‘The Odyssey.’ He envisioned the show as a blend of Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad films and the classical Greek poem, with Nymeria leading a floating city-state in search of a new home.
Despite Helgeland’s belief that his script ‘came out great,’ HBO ultimately decided against producing the series, citing the show’s historical setting as a reason. Helgeland remains optimistic, however, expressing that his work is still available if HBO changes its mind.
Although the ‘10,000 Ships’ spinoff may not have come to fruition, Helgeland’s passion for the project and his admiration for Martin’s work shine through in his recent interview. The concept of a ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel focusing on Nymeria’s journey remains a tantalizing prospect for fans of the sprawling fantasy saga.
