In a classic good news/bad news scenario, a Game of Thrones movie is definitely in the works… without the involvement of George RR Martin.
The mastermind behind the world of Westeros is hard at work on the next A Song of Ice and Fire book The Winds of Winter as well as three new TV shows, and thus doesn't have time to script a film.
Game of Thrones will get a "bittersweet" ending, says George RR Martin
"There will be a movie but I will not be involved," he recently insisted (via the Daily Star).
The author went on to say: "I have too much to do. That is something HBO and [producers DB Weiss and David Benioff] are dealing with.
"I have two more books to finish and I still have so much to do. The pressure is on. I am such a slow writer and the fans get upset that I don't write faster."
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Martin spoke out earlier this year about his decision to avoid turning Game of Thrones into a movie in the past.
"My story is a combination of stuff [rather than one single story]," he explained. "I didn't need the money so I had the power to say the sexiest word in Hollywood - 'No'."
Elsewhere, Martin's Spanish editor recently hinted that Winds of Winter could finally arrive in 2016 just in time for Game of Thrones season six.
Game of Thrones returns to Sky Atlantic in the UK and HBO in the US next spring.