HBO makes deal with terrorist over GRRM books

[matgb]

In amazing news released today, HBO television and renowned author George R. R. Martin have announced they have made a deal with a convicted terrorist in order to film a series based on Martin's Game of Thrones in territory controlled by the terrorist.

OK, the convictions may be over 30 years old, and McGuinnes might now be a senior Northern Ireland politician and deputy first minister, but even so, how cool is this?

During our recent trip to Los Angeles, the First Minister and I met with senior executives from HBO to help finalise the deal to bring the TV production here
~~Martin McGuinness

It's confirmed, not only are they making a series based on the books, but it's going to be flimed in Belfast, and the two most senior NI politicos were heavily involved in negotiating the deal and made a joint statement announcing it's been finalised. (via)

Of course, the real question is---how many Starks will die in the first episode?

Comments

[nwhyte]

Hey, that's unfair. Martin McGuinness has only been successfully prosecuted in the Republic. Peter Robinson has been prosecuted successfully on both sides of the border!!!!

[matgb]

Ah, see, this was news to me--but he's not actually a convicted terrorist, 'unlawful assembly' isn't specifically terrorism.

Plus, was he convicted over Ulster Resistance? I knew he helped found it, but he left when they went paramilitary and there's no reference to an actual conviction.

Not that it actually matters, I just liked the headline too much to not use it.

[exmoor-cat.livejournal.com]

Good excuse for a jolly to LA!

[ninebelow.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what is cool about this, encouraging investment is a part and parcel of a politician's job.

[matgb]

Well, yeah, but they specifically sought the filming of a heavyweight fantasy series. I think that's fairly cool.

OK, I mostly posted so I could use the silly headline, but...

[the-mental-one.livejournal.com]

personally I think it's cool that they're making the series, although depressed because it probably won't live up to the books and vaguely irritated as I've been waiting for the next book for ages.

[matgb]

Heh, I was wandering where you came from, then saw the email that I presume you sent to the ld-tag list.

I suspect that the series will be pretty close to the books, but not close enough for some fans. And yes, next book would be nice. Then, that's the problem with buying into a series that isn't finished yet, and sometimes writers just stop writing.

[the-mental-one.livejournal.com]

yeah, that's me...although I don't normally bother letting people know I have a livejounral as I use it so little.

I'm just hoping that they do a serious job rather than going into standard "oh it's fantasy, you don't need actors for this just get some people who look good..." I'm so cynical about anything from the American tv networks now. Anything decent in sci-fi / fantasy seems to be doomed almost before it begins...I understand that they're all about the profits rather than doing things for the fans but sometimes it might be nice for them to realise that without us fans they wouldn't be making the profits ;oP

[matgb]

so cynical about anything from the American tv networks now

True, but this is HBO, not a network. They're devloping a pretty good rep for making shows that are actually good and aimed at specific niche audiences rather than simple mainstream crap.

Hence I reserve judgement, the stuff they've done that was my sort of thing was really good (although I've still not got around to watching Deadwood S2).