Exclusive: George RR Martin Breaks Silence on ‘Winds of Winter’ and Drops Exciting ‘House of the Dragon’ Updates Amid WGA Strike

George R. R. Martin NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

George R.R. Martin provided an update on the progress of his various projects during the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, bringing some hopeful news to fans.

In a recent blog post on Saturday, July 22, the 74-year-old author revealed that House of the Dragon season 2 is still in progress, despite the work stoppages in the United States. "I have been informed that the second season is halfway completed," he shared. "All of the scripts were completed months ahead of the WGA strike and, to the best of my knowledge, no writing has taken place since then."

The show is still filming because HOTD primarily films in London and other European locations. The majority of the show's actors are part of the British actors union, Equity, rather than SAG-AFTRA, which is why they are unable to go on strike to show support for their American counterparts. British law prohibits them from staging a sympathy strike as it would leave them vulnerable to being fired or sued for breaching their contracts.

Production for Season 2 of the HBO fantasy series commenced in April. Just prior to the onset of the SAG-AFTRA strike on July 14, Equity released a statement expressing their support for the strike, while simultaneously acknowledging the potential ramifications that its members may encounter for participation.

Earlier this month, the British union affirmed, "Equity wholeheartedly stands in support of our sister union and the actions their Board has chosen to undertake. We, too, are confronting opposition from aggressive entities seeking to undermine our collectively negotiated agreements. SAG-AFTRA has our unwavering solidarity in their battle."

The House of the Dragon series is adapted from Martin's 2018 novel Fire & Blood, which serves as a prequel to his A Song of Ice and Fire series. Currently, ASOIAF comprises five books, and it served as the inspiration for the popular TV show Game of Thrones. However, Martin intends to release at least two more volumes in the future. For over a decade, he has been dedicated to writing the sixth book in the series, titled The Winds of Winter. Due to the strike, Martin has shifted his focus from his TV work to other projects in development.

Personally, my overall deal with HBO was suspended on June 1st. However, I am fortunate to have plenty of other tasks to keep me busy. The strike primarily impacts entry-level writers, story editors, aspiring students, actors with minimal lines, and individuals in their first staff position who aspire to create their own show in the future.

Fortunately, the strike does not hinder my work in the theater industry where I am currently focused on a stage play called The Iron Throne. Furthermore, I want to assure my fans that I am steadily making progress on the next ASOIAF book.

"And indeed, I have been diligently working on Winds of Winter," he expressed. "Almost every single day, I delve into writing, refining, editing, and further writing. I am making consistent strides, although not as swift as I desire...certainly not as expeditious as YOU may wish...yet progress is being achieved. This endeavor manages to keep me occupied and away from any mischief."