HBO has several spinoffs planned, but it’s missing what is perhaps the easiest, most obvious, and likely biggest possible option. Even prior to , the cable outfit was starting to explore ways to continue telling stories set in Westeros. That’s so far resulted in the canceled prequel about the Long Night and, of course, , but that’s only the beginning.

As well as , the list of other includes (which has been ordered to series) and talk of things such as a Jon Snow sequel and an Aegon the Conqueror prequel being in development. There’s potential to all the stories, but more surprising than what’s happening is what isn’t being made: a

prequel about Robert’s Rebellion.

Robert’s Rebellion Would Be The Biggest Game Of Thrones Prequel

For all the success of , and the odds that something like the would match it, there’s reason to believe that a Robert’s Rebellion show would be even bigger. This is, in a sense, the most natural prequel idea in the entire franchise: it’s the story that sets up and defines so much of what follows in , from broad strokes (Robert being King, the Targaryens all but wiped out) to critical character relationships and traits (Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen’s star-crossed lovers story, Jaime Lannister becoming the Kingslayer).

George R.R. Martin Never Wanted A Robert’s Rebellion Spinoff

While Robert’s Rebellion would likely be the biggest spinoff (and has previously been mooted as a potential option), there’s one big problem: George R.R. Martin has previously been against it happening. Back in 2017, Martin wrote in his site:

"We're not doing Robert's Rebellion either. I know thousands of you want that, I know there's a petition... but by the time I finish writing A SONG OF ICE & FIRE, you will know every important thing that happened in Robert's Rebellion.

There would be no surprises or revelations left in such a show, just the acting out of conflicts whose resolutions you already know. That's not a story I want to tell just now; it would feel too much like a twice-told tale."

Of course, times change, people change, and plans change. In that same post, Martin also said they were not doing because he had more novellas to write, and now… is becoming a TV show, and no more novellas have yet been written. So it’s not impossible, but the difference there is Martin asserted he’d love to do eventually, whereas he clearly had no interest in Robert’s Rebellion.

Martin is very much a key part of HBO’s plans, having been closely involved with and likely too, so it’d be a big surprise if it went so against his wishes.

Why It’s Good A Robert’s Rebellion Spinoff Isn't Happening (For Now)

It’s also worth considering how much itself covered of Robert’s Rebellion. Even aside from already have seen Aerys’ death in flashback, would any depiction of it match Jaime Lannister’s own recounting of what really happened to Brienne of Tarth? It’s one of

’ most perfect scenes, and shouldn’t be trifled with lightly. Similarly, the Tower of Joy sequences are, at turns, thrilling and then incredibly poignant; the show in particular nailed the emotion of Lyanna’s beautifully. Is there a need to remake that? For all Robert’s Rebellion has going for it, the cons outright the pros in this case.