Not everyone enjoyed Season 8 of Game of Thrones. The season’s conclusion split the fan base in two. One was happy with the resolution, while the other sought a new season. Some have attributed this to the lack of the next novels by George R. R. Martin. Some also cited the showrunners’ aroused interest in working with Disney’s Lucasfilm to start a Star Wars feature picture trilogy as a contributing factor. It has been confirmed that Martin’s presence diminished from the show as the seasons progressed.

George R. R. Martin was initially involved in casting

Martin reminisced how he started on the show in an interview with Time, “I’m a co-executive producer on the show; David and Dan are the showrunners. Right from the first, we knew that they were going to do the lion’s share of the work, but I did wanted to be involved. Initially, I was involved in all the casting — I wasn’t physically present — I was here in Santa Fe.

But through the wonders of the internet, I was able to look at all of the actors reading and to write them long letters and to have phone calls where I discussed which actors I like and which actors I didn’t like. And in the early seasons, I wrote one script per season. I would have gladly done more, but there just wasn’t time.”

Goerge R.R Martin went back to writing after not being involved post Season 5

He continued, “I’m still trying to do these books. It takes me about a month to write a script and I didn’t have a month to spare, so I said, I think I’ll sit out season 5. I’ve sat out seasons 6 and 7 too, just trying to concentrate on this book, which as you know is massively late. So in that sense, my involvement in the show has diminished over time, though, I’m still here whenever they want to talk to me, and I’m always glad to weigh in.”

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