UPDATE:

HBO has confirmed the planned George R.R. Martin and Jane Goldman Game of Thrones spinoff series starring Naomi Watts is dead.

The statement reads: “After careful consideration, we have decided not to move forward to series with the Untitled Game of Thrones prequel. We thank Jane Goldman, S.J. Clarkson, and the talented cast and crew for all of their hard work and dedication.”However, HBO did announce on October 30 that it picked up another Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, straight to series . Inspired by Martin's Fire & Blood book, it's co-created by Martin and Colony's Ryan Condal. Condal and GoT director Miguel Sapochnik will serve as showrunners, with Sapochnik directing the pilot and future episodes.IGN's original story continues below:

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Game of Thrones Spinoff Writers: A Breakdown 17 IMAGES

Every IGN Game of Thrones Review 74 IMAGES

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Game of Thrones' planned prequel series is no longer going forward at HBO.After a pilot for the Naomi Watts-starring series was filmed earlier this year, the network has opted not to move forward with the untitled Game of Thrones spinoff, Deadline reports. Jane Goldman, the showrunner for the pilot, is reportedly sharing the news of the lack of pickup with the cast and crew. IGN has reached out to HBO for comment.The show, which may or may not have been called "The Longest Night," filmed its pilot in Northern Ireland over the summer. The series would have starred Naomi Watts as its lead . The Game of Thrones prequel cast also included Josh Whitehouse, Naomi Ackie, Denise Gough, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sheila Atim, Ivanno Jeremiah, Georgie Henley, Alex Sharp, and Toby Regbo. The pilot was directed by S.J. Clarkson.Deadline reports that the news of the pilot not going forward "comes after a lengthy post-production and rumors about issues during filming in Northern Ireland."Goldman developed the concept with George R.R. Martin. Set 5,000 years before the events of Game of Thrones , the prequel would have explored the Age of Heroes and likely key historical figures like Bran the Builder -- but, notably, wouldn't feature the Targargyens . Martin had said that while the Starks and direwolves will be featured in the show , it would be a different Westeros than what fans are used to."We talk about the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros; there were Seven Kingdoms at the time of Aegon’s Conquest,” Martin previously told Entertainment Weekly about the intent for the series. “But if you go back further then there are nine kingdoms, and 12 kingdoms, and eventually you get back to where there are a hundred kingdoms — petty kingdoms — and that’s the era we’re talking about here."HBO President Casey Bloys spoke about the status of The Longest Night at the summer 2019 TV Critics' Press Tour, saying the negative response to Game of Thrones' final season didn't affect the way the network is approaching the upcoming prequel series "at all." (It's worth noting that The Longest Night didn't creatively involve GoT showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, or executive producer Bryan Cogman.)At the time, Bloys said of the series, "It looks really good. The cast was amazing. Jane and S.J. are busy in the edit room so I haven’t seen anything yet, but we’re looking forward to it." It's unclear why HBO opted not to pick the show up to series following the delivery of the finished pilot.HBO announced its plans to explore a spinoff to Game of Thrones in May 2017, when the network closed deals for writers to begin work on four potential prequel series (though that number later increased to five ). The screenwriters for the different potential projects were Max Borenstein (Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island); Jane Goldman (Kingsman: The Secret Service) and George R.R. Martin; Brian Helgeland (LA: Confidential, Robin Hood); and Carly Wray (Mad Men, The Leftovers) and George R.R. Martin.Back in May 2019, Martin had written that three of the five spinoff series at HBO were "moving forward nicely"; in addition to The Longest Night, he said the "other two shows remain in the script stage, but are edging closer."With The Longest Night now dead, the best chance at a GoT spinoff is Martin's collaboration with Colony co-creator Ryan Condal, which will be based on Martin's Fire and Blood book. The exploration of the history of the Targaryan dynasty will be set 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Deadline reports that the project received an "unofficial pilot green light" back in September. The status of the third potential series Martin mentioned is unclear.With hope not dead for a Game of Thrones spinoff even if this Age of Heroes project is, here are four Game of Thrones spinoff ideas we would definitely watch This isn't the only Game of Thrones news making headlines this week. Former showrunners Benioff and Weiss held a candid Q&A at the Austin Film Festival where they admitted "we really did not" listen to fan feedback while writing the show. Though likely coincidental timing, the following day news broke that Benioff and Weiss's planned Star Wars movies are not moving forward at Disney.In more heartening news, Emilia Clarke, Jason Momoa and Kit Harington reunited at Clarke's birthday party over the weekend and posted sweet photos together.Which Game of Thrones prequel would you be most interested to see? Let us know in the comments!

Terri Schwartz is Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment at IGN. Talk to her on Twitter at @Terri_Schwartz