Sophie Turner has commented on a return for what would effectively beGame of Thronesseason 9, and it shows why the series shouldn’t - or at least, almost certainly couldn’t - come back. Five years on fromGame of Thrones’ ending, the way the HBO hit went out remains extremely contentious, but the show as a whole is beloved. Those two elements combine to make the idea of a ninth season an interesting one.
So far, the closest we’ve come to a direct continuation ofGame of Throneswas the Jon Snow spinoff show, which would’ve seen Kit Harington return. That, however, was scrapped when they couldn’t find an idea to take it forward. Meanwhile,Turner expressed some interest in aGame of Thronesreturn, but her comments (below) highlight not only the problem, but the best way forward:
I mean, it would have to be the exact same cast and the exact same crew, otherwise I wouldn’t go back and that would just be season 9, and I don’t think we’re going to do a season 9, but, I mean, I loved playing Sansa, and I do wonder often what would she be doing now. Where would she be five years later, what would she be doing? Would she still be queen in the North? Would she be a good ruler? Would there be some other kind of terrible war that’s happened? I’d love to see it.
Sophie Turner’s Game Of Thrones Season 9 Comments Show It’s Almost Impossible To Make
It Would Be Very Difficult To Reunite Game Of Thrones' Cast & Crew
Turner is right in thatalmost any continuation ofGame of Throneswould effectively just be season 9, and that shows the major hurdle to it happening. AlthoughGame of Thronesseason 8prompted a backlash, the sheer scale of production was one unmatched on TV, and that would be very difficult to bring back. It would require a lot of moving parts coming together, given the size of the show’s cast and crew, and lining up all of those schedules - even if they alldidwant to return - would be near impossible.
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There’s also no guaranteeGame of Thrones’ castand crew would want to return. It was pretty clear by the end that it had taken a toll, because it’s such an intense production for all involved.Harington commented on the backlash toGame of Thrones’ endingand said as much himself:
“I think if there was any fault with the end of Thrones, it’s that we were all so f**king tired, we couldn’t have gone on longer.”
There’s also a big question about whetherGame of Thronesseason 9 would be a good idea.Although it’s tempting to think it could be used to fix the problems of the ending, the risk is that it would inevitably just double down on them, such as Bran Stark being king. Others - like Daenerys Targaryen’s death - aren’t really fixable at all for those who it didn’t work for, barring another resurrection (and it’s very difficult to find an argument for that being a good idea).
An Arya Sequel Is The Only Spinoff That Avoids Being Game Of Thrones Season 9
Arya Stark’s Story Doesn’t Require Other Returning Characters
Pretty much anyGame of Thronesspinoff that continues on from season 8 - barring a decades-long time jump - would have a problem with just being season 9. No matter which character it decides to follow, whether that’s Sansa in the North or even Jon Snow beyond the Wall, raises the question of where other characters are, what they’re doing, and why they aren’t involved, and thus likely necessitates the need for the whole cast and crew to come back. They’re all still in Westeros, at the same time, so it’s a difficult issue to get around.
Because she’s actually left the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, then there’s a legitimate, built-in reason for a spinoff to focus only on Arya…
The exception to this is a show following the adventures ofArya Stark, who left to find what’s West of Westeros in the series finale. Because she’s actually left theSeven Kingdoms of Westeros, then there’s a legitimate, built-in reason for a spinoff to focus only on Arya, without any need to address what’s going on elsewhere. Her journeys would take months if not years, and so it’d be no problem if there’s no appearance from Jon Snow or Sansa, and while audiences may still wonder, there’s an obvious reason to avoid the question, which any other sequel wouldn’t have.
An Arya Stark Spinoff Is The Best Story Game Of Thrones Has Left To Tell
Finding “What’s West Of Westeros” Could Be An Interesting Story
It’s not just that an Arya Stark spinoff could avoid problems with returning cast and characters, but that there is an actual story there. More than anyone else,Arya’s ending was really about her future: whereas things like Sansa and Bran becoming rulers are endpoints to their arcs and Jon Snow going North of the Wall allows him to heal from his trauma, Arya’s is all about discovery, and so audiences could discover those things with her.
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There’s a chance for something really new with a story following Arya: characters, locations, parts of the world that haven’t been shown or nobody even knows exist. That would also allow for more development of - and time with - the real Arya, because, in a sense, we don’t fully know her right now. We spent years with her as a young girl, and then years with her as no one and someone seeking vengeance, but what about this Arya? She has a newfound sense of balance, a reclaimed identity, and a different purpose now, and given she was already one ofGame of Thrones’ best characters, then that’s something that could be great to follow.
Will An Arya Stark Spinoff Or Game Of Thrones Season 9 Ever Actually Happen?
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Of course, it’s easy to say that an Arya Stark spinoff should happen, but it is a lot more difficult to make it happen. It’s certainly easier than season 9, since it just requires Maisie Williams to sign on, but there’s no guarantee she would.Williams discussed aGame of Thronesreturnback in 2022, and while she didn’t shoot down the idea, it would need a lot of things to be right and come together:
“I’m not saying it would never happen, but I’m also not saying it in this interview so that everyone goes… [gasps] ‘The spin-off! It’s coming!’ Because it’s not. It has to be the right time and the right people. It has to be right in the context of all the other spin-offs and the universe of Game of Thrones . […] It has to be the right time for me.”
There’s also the matter of anotherupcomingGame of Thronesspinoff, which is an animated show following Corlys Velaryon on his Great Voyages. These were a series of nine voyages around the world, where he acclimated great wealth; given the nature of the story - a key character from another show sailing around on an adventure of discovery - it may be too similar for an Arya spinoff to be considered.
Status
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
An adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s The Tales of Dunk & Egg novellas
Season 1 releasing in 2025 on HBO and Max
House of the Dragon
Ongoing Game of Thrones prequel, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war, the Dance of the Dragons
Season 3 expected in 2026; season 4 will be the last
Aegon’s Conquest
The story of King Aegon I Targaryen and the conquest of Westeros with his sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya
In-development
10,000 Ships
A spinoff about Princess Nymeria, who led her people the Rhoynar to Dorne after a war with the Valyrian Freehold
Nine Voyages
An animated show about Corlys Velaryon’s Great Voyages, where he sailed around the Known World
The Golden Empire (unofficial)
An animated show set in empire of Yi Ti, which is in the far East of Essos
Another live-action Game of Thrones spinoff
Another animated Game of Thrones spinoff
That said, an Arya sequel would undoubtedly be an even bigger deal, and an absolute home run for HBO. It’s a clear continuation of the main show with one of its most popular characters, and so if the network could get it made, then surely it’d jump at the opportunity. It does seem unlikely, butit definitely feels more plausible thanGame of Thronesseason 9.
Even that isn’t entirely impossible, given how many shows have had revivals over the years. But HBO seems intent on expanding theGame of Thronesfranchise, not just continuing it, and with the risks involved of further hurting the show’s legacy and the difficulties of bringing everyone back, it’s extremely unlikely to happen.
Game Of Thrones
Cast
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
