A Game Of Thrones Movie Needs To Follow One Character’s Continuing Journey

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Key Takeaways

  • Arya Stark is a fan-favorite character who survived Game of Thrones & followed her own path.
  • West of Westeros is uncharted territory with creatures & mysteries that could lead Arya to new adventures.
  • Maisie Williams is open to revisiting her role as Arya and a potential Game of Thrones movie could redeem her character’s arc.

As a devoted fan of George R.R. Martin’s epic saga and a connoisseur of all things Westeros, I must say that the prospect of an Arya Stark spin-off is nothing short of exhilarating! Having followed Maisie Williams’ journey from a young, wide-eyed actress to the fierce, enigmatic Arya we know today, it’s fascinating to imagine what her future holds.

Although winter has passed and moved on, the popularity of “Game of Thrones” remains unchanged. HBO produced eight seasons of this highly successful series, which were inspired by George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire novels.” The final season of “Game of Thrones” sparked disagreement among fans and even prompted a demand for a remake, but the story didn’t stop there.

HBO has been pushing ahead with a growing lineup of spin-offs, however, only the “House of the Dragon” prequel show has been broadcasted so far. The idea for a prequel centered around The Long Night was abandoned, and plans for a Kit Harrington-starring Jon Snow sequel series were also canceled.

With the announcement that a “Game of Thrones” film is coming up, t shelved implies set aside or kept on a shelf; the paraphrase emphasizes the concept of moving forward and taking center stage rather than being set aside.)

What’s west of Westeros?

Just like Martin’s novels, Maisie Williams’ portrayal of Arya Stark swiftly gained popularity among fans. Similar to characters Bran and Sansa, Arya experienced a significant transformation throughout the series and was even the one who defeated the Night King – a character often associated with the Prince That Was Promised. In the end, Arya survived the story and was last seen heading towards the west of Westeros. Beyond this point, Martin has mentioned that Lonely Light is the smallest among the Iron Islands, while only Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya have been charted beyond it in the Known World.

Martin is well-known for creating the continents of Westeros and Essos, but the mystery of what lies beyond Westeros remains largely unexplored by him. Arya’s curiosity was sparked when Lady Crane, played by Essie Davis, hinted that the edge of the world might be all that exists west of Westeros. In fact, many have ventured in that direction before, with Elissa Farman being the most notable among them. Like Arya, Farman shares several similarities, and due to speculation about her stealing the eggs which eventually hatch into Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons, she holds significance within the storyline.

To the west of the Iron Islands lies the perilous Sunset Sea, a region said to be unnavigable but allegedly traversed by some Ironborn. The waters are teeming with terrifying creatures such as kraken, leviathans, and even legendary sea serpents – much like the dragons in “Game of Thrones.” Legend has it that Brandon the Shipwright, once King in the North, attempted to sail this treacherous sea thousands of years ago, but his journey ended mysteriously as he was never seen again, leaving his crypt at Winterfell vacant. If anyone has settled on the western shores, they could potentially be related to Arya Stark.

The series “Game of Thrones” showcases Arya’s fighting prowess, implying a potential change in the narrative as strange and fascinating creatures reside in the lands beyond Westeros. George R.R. Martin’s fondness for “Lord of the Rings” is noteworthy, particularly since Frodo sets sail towards the Undying Land at story’s end. This could be a subtle reference. Although the show may choose to conclude Arya’s journey, there are increasing signs that Maisie Williams might reprise her role in the forthcoming “Game of Thrones” movie.

An Arya Stark movie can Redeem Game of Thrones Season 8

Besides “House of the Dragon” and the upcoming “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” there are various other projects in development. Since these projects occur before the timeline, Maisie Williams is not involved; however, after news about the new movie surfaced, George R.R. Martin hinted that Arya’s story might continue on his Not a Blog site.

Martin shared, “We had a gathering with Maisie Williams, enjoying some pizza and pasta. We chatted about various things, though I’d rather not disclose the details just yet, as I don’t want to jinx it. It could turn out to be quite exciting!

Critics argue that in the final season of “Game of Thrones,” attention was primarily given to the ordinary Jon Snow, while Daenerys’ transformation into the Mad Queen occurred too swiftly for some viewers. Additionally, it has been contended that the series neglected Arya Stark’s significance, as despite her pivotal role in defeating the Night King, she continued to be a secondary character following this event. Even after turning down an opportunity at love with Gendry, leaving her family behind, and setting sail on a journey into the unknown as ‘no one,’ Arya remained largely in the background.

In season 5, Arya’s stay at the House of Black and White aimed to develop a more substantial storyline for her character, but it ultimately failed to deliver. This underperformance may have contributed to the abandonment of a previously planned TV series centered in Braavos. However, elements related to the Faceless Men and Jaqen H’ghar could potentially be revisited in a possible Arya spin-off. Reuniting Tom Wlaschiha as the enigmatic leader of the Faceless Men would be another significant advantage for an Arya-focused project.

As a gamer putting myself in Williams’ shoes, it certainly seems like she might be open to reprising her role. After all, she mentioned feeling ‘lost’ while working on Game of Thrones to The Sunday Times – which suggests there could be unfinished business for her character.

For such a long time, I was utterly confused about who I was, fully aware of this confusion, and when I couldn’t grasp what defined my identity within that haze, it made me very uncomfortable. Now, I feel much more at ease in my own person. It’s challenging to remember those tough times and discuss them because I believe I’ve moved past them.

This implies that Williams’ deep affection for Arya hasn’t waned, as evidenced by her recent reprisal of the role in MultiVersus by Player First Games. It seems she’s comfortable continuing to portray the character.

If Martin’s last two novels in the series resemble the show, Arya’s fame is likely to increase significantly. However, whether her journey west is further explored in these books could potentially spark demands for a sequel. Unfortunately, there’s no word on when Martin plans to publish “The Winds of Winter” or its follow-up, “A Dream of Spring.” Additionally, any Arya spin-off may face concerns that it’s an unauthorized continuation of “Game of Thrones” Season 9, acting as a repository for characters and storylines that might emerge in the final two books but were excluded from the final season.

All ongoing “Game of Thrones” projects are rooted in Martin’s original work, and while some argue that the series strayed from its path when it outpaced the books, an Arya-centered series or film could revitalize the franchise and demonstrate that it doesn’t solely depend on Martin’s writing. Given that Williams is 27 now, she wouldn’t be ready to reprise her role for several years, which would create a compelling narrative of a more seasoned and tough Arya seeking something beyond Westeros after years of fighting the Sunset Sea. However, as with the Jon Snow series disintegrating due to Martin and the team struggling to find a compelling story, there must be a solid reason for revisiting the stubborn Stark character.

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2024-11-17 22:07