George RR Martin Breaks Silence on House of the Dragon ‘It’s Abysmal’

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George R.R. Martin recently spoke with James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter about his feelings towards the show House of the Dragon and its creator, Ryan Condal. While Martin personally chose Condal to adapt the Dance of the Dragons story, he has expressed significant disappointment with how the second season of House of the Dragon turned out.

Martin felt he and Ryan Condal had a strong working relationship during the first season of House of the Dragon. He described a collaborative process where he’d review early script drafts and offer feedback, which Condal would often incorporate. However, Martin believes this positive dynamic shifted in Season 2, as Condal began taking more and more creative license with the story.

House of the Dragon Showrunner Ryan Condal Kept Changing George R.R. Martin’s Story Against His Wishes

George R.R. Martin didn’t hold back when describing his working relationship with Ryan Condal. He said it was “abysmal” and “worse than rocky,” adding that he looked miserable while discussing it. Martin explained that Condal stopped taking his input during the production of Season 2 of House of the Dragon. Martin would offer suggestions, but they were consistently ignored. While Condal sometimes provided explanations, other times he’d simply acknowledge the notes without taking action. Martin said the situation deteriorated over time, causing him increasing frustration.

George R.R. Martin and House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal had a falling out, leading HBO to mediate their communication. Martin said he was instructed to send his notes to HBO, who would then share them with Condal. Condal declined to comment on Martin’s recent statements to The Hollywood Reporter, but previously told Entertainment Weekly that he tried to involve Martin in adapting the story, but Martin became resistant to considering the practical challenges of making the show.

George R.R. Martin Does Not Stand Behind House of the Dragon Season 3

The tension between George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal reportedly reached a critical point during a Zoom meeting with HBO where plans for House of the Dragon Season 3 were discussed. James Hibberd reports that Ryan Condal presented his ideas for the season, and George R.R. Martin then voiced numerous disagreements. Martin famously stated that he felt the show was no longer aligned with his original vision.

Even though the Game of Thrones TV series significantly differed from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books, he never publicly rejected it. However, his willingness to admit that House of the Dragon is diverging from his original vision suggests a strained relationship with showrunner Ryan Condal. For devoted fans of the source material – A Song of Ice and Fire and Fire & Blood – this likely means that Season 3 of House of the Dragon will be very different from the novel it’s based on.

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2026-01-15 20:04