Update, 10/30/18:

HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel pilot may have one of its stars. Variety is reporting Naomi Watts has been cast in a lead role in the episode that is being written by Jane Goldman and A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin. Who Watts will be portraying isn’t known at this time, but Variety says her character is “a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret.” Hmm.

Original post:

HBO‘s president Casey Bloys has been hinting at, walking around, and teasing Game of Thrones spinoffs (plural) for years. The massively successful adaptation of George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire books has opened the door to the wide world of Westeros, and on Friday, we learned HBO officially ordered a pilot for a Game of Thrones prequel written by Jane Goldman and George R.R. Martin. Via Entertainment Weekly, this prequel will go way back into the past.

HBO’s official description for the prequel pilot:

“Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’s history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East, to the Starks of legend … it’s not the story we think we know.”

Going so far back offers them the opportunity to explore a time period that is not tied to the current timeline. With this different of an era, they could redesign Westeros if they want. They have creative freedom and a place for Game of Thrones fans to visit after the series comes to an end after season eight.

Martin has touched on some of Westeros’ past in A Song of Ice and Fire and in The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros. We’ve learned a little about the Age of Heroes and now legendary names such as Bran the Builder and Garth Greenhand. Many of the major Houses in Game of Thrones can trace their legacies back to the Age of Heroes. Goldman and Martin could pull threads from what we know, but they have so much room to tell new stories.

Is this what you had in mind for the HBO prequels? Are you excited? Feeling as cold as an ice dragon about this news? Tell us in the comments.

Images: HBO, Showtime