Never-before-seen images have now emerged from a canceled prequel series

A separate TV series should be dedicated to the prehistory of the White Walkers. But nothing came of the planned prequel to Game of Thrones. Image source: HBO

Bloodmoon was supposed to delve deep into the past in Westeros, but was officially canceled in 2019. By then, HBO had already spent a lot of money on the planned prequel series to Game of Thrones: the crazy pilot alone cost 30 million US dollars, But not even George RR Martin was allowed to see it!

Now – five years later, after Bloodmoon was pulled the plug – real pictures from the pilot episode have appeared for the first time. They show leading actress Naomie Watts (Mulholland Drive, King Kong) in costume on Casterly Rock. The episode apparently revolves around a wedding between the Starks and Casterlys that takes place at the fortress.

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White Walkers, Children of the Forest, Long Night

What should the series have been about? Bloodmoon wanted to take place around 8,000 years before the events of Game of Thrones and tell of the Long Night in which the White Walkers brought ruin to Westeros.

The Children of the Forest should have also played an important role in Bloodmoon, as well as ancient houses of Westeros. Of course, it’s fitting that the Starks and Casterlys are the linchpin of the pilot episode.

Would you like a little history lesson? The Casterlys were one of the oldest families in Westeros. In fact, they were among the so-called First Men who settled Westeros. Because Casterly Rock was built over a huge gold deposit, the Casterlys were considered the richest and most powerful house in Westeros.

However, by the time of the main Game of Thrones series, the Casterlys are long extinct. The decisive factor for this was a trick from Lenn the Cunning, who robbed the Casterlys of their castle, their riches and also the source of their fortune. Lenn would then form his own house, which we of course know as Lannister.

Bloodmoon could have brought the mythical component of Game of Thrones further into focus. In addition to the White Walkers, the children of the forest should also play an important role. Image source: HBO

Why did Bloodmoon never become a proper series?

The pilot episode of Bloodmoon is supposed to a budget of $30 to $35 million However, the people in charge at HBO couldn’t convince them. That’s why the project was officially pulled in 2019.

Jane Goldman (Kick-As, X-Men: Days of Future Past) was responsible for the story, while George RR Martin did not take part in the project. In addition to Naomie Watts, Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things), among others, should have played a major role.

Another prequel to Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, will start in 2022: The spin-off series is based on George RR Martin’s novel Fire and Blood, which is dedicated to the history of the Targaryens – specifically the conflict between the Targaryens and Hightowers. Season 2 is scheduled to follow in early summer 2024.