ASOIAF movie?

[baleanoptera]

Rumor has it that ASOIAF will be made into a tv-series.

By HBO none the less, and yet I'm strangely hesitant.

True - it could turn out to be a magnificent production, and turn me into even more of a geeky fangirl (with a [insert squee as deemed necessary] function). Lord of the Rings did after all turn out quite nicely.

But - not every director is a Peter Jackson. Also - and this is my biggest "if"- the series isn't finished yet. Is it really so wise to start producing a series were no one as yet knows the outcome?

Now they did start to make the Harry Potter films before the series was finished, but I'm not sold on that as a good thing. The production of the movies did after all run into some serious trouble when Rowling got writers block around book 4 and 5. Not only were they running out of material, but the young cast was growing up to fast. A similar predicament could easily plague an ASOIAF production.

So I guess I'm rather hesitant to the whole project....

...which is not the same as saying that I never play "the casting game" aka which actors would fit what role (and as long as no one says Sawyer from Lost would make a good Jaime then all is good. ;P).

Comments

[richlayers.livejournal.com]

That's hilarious because this: http://tnaoqv.livejournal.com/84734.html was on my friends page right next to your entry....

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

LOL! I'm beginning to believe the people who claim there are no coincidences. ;p

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to this!! Though of course it depends on who will play Jaime, Sandor and Jon. I think they have a good chance - there is much less of the pure fantasy elements in ASOIF then in LOTR (dragons, goblins, etc). Much easier to make a TV production.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Much easier to make a TV production.

Well that is true. *g* And as you say there are less pure fantasy elements in Asoiaf - at least so far. We don't know what will happen with the dragons and the Others. ;)

But I guess I'm just a little scared. I loved the books so much, and I'm afraid they will end up making an inferior product. Much more afraid than I was with LOTR. I don't know why that is, but maybe LOTR had already established itself, whereas Asoiaf is only just starting?

I'm sorry, now I probably sound very whiny. I just get a little worried every time a book I love is going to be filmed.

And it does rather depend on the casting. ;D Especially of the beloved characters!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I understand why you are worried!!! But remember, they have few less successful LOTR productions before and that didn't hinder the book in any way!!

I think ASOIF is great and will be fantasy classic for years to come!!

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

This is very true - and it's good to hear you optimistic arguments. They are a good foil for my doom and gloom feelings. So please - keep them up. :D

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Is it really so wise to start producing a series were no one as yet knows the outcome?

Well, plus, given how slow Martin is, I feel like they might have to recast. Several times. AND he's a consultant on the show, which on the one hand is good, but on the other hand, it distracts him AGAIN from WRITING. AND HBO cancelled "Rome" because it was too expensive; so I feel like maybe they will make books 1 & 2 and then decide it's too pricey or something.

I don't really like this news one little bit.

as long as no one says Sawyer from Lost would make a good Jaime then all is good.

I really hope this doesn't happen, as I don't want to smash my beautiful new TV :P

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

it distracts him AGAIN from WRITING.

Exactly! I can live with Martin taking time of from the books to write short stories, or even (though here I'm stretching it) being involved in the roleplaying game "Game of Thrones". But to be involved in a tv-series? That means more time spent on promotion, tours and such - an less on the books! *meep*

Then there is the fact that I'm always a little jumpy when a favorite book is being filmed. They are already filming "The dark is rising" (a YA fantasy series which I love), and I'm worried enough about that. I don't want to worry about another beloved series.


as I don't want to smash my beautiful new TV :P

Hee.. no, spare the tv. (the beautiful tv - which I ENVY!)But seriously - I have read several casting suggestions where the "OMG! Sawyer is Jaime" pops up, and I go a little "huh?" Because there is more to being a Lannister than having blond hair and the ability to snark dammit!

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Also it occurred to me that I have no Jaime icon - which seems strange and a little in the land of WTF?, but there you go. I suppose an icon-quest is in order.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Check out Alexandra's LJ :P She made many fabulous ASOIAF icons, including my Jaime one ...

And Jaime does NOT slither around in a pile of grease, so Sawyer? NO FRICKIN' WAY!!! (Actually, I think Max Pirkis would probably make a fantastic 17-year old Jaime!)

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Apparently great minds think alike, for I'm already on my way - I just got distracted by some of her beautiful LOTR icons. ;)

And Jaime does NOT slither around in a pile of grease

Lol. No, and he would be mortally offended and snarky as hell if you suggested he should try. Also, he is not a walking stereotype - which Sawyer is. (and I suffered through one and a half season of Lost, so I feel I'm in my right to say that. At least that I have earned after hours and hours of chaos and gaping plot holes. )

But I really like the suggestion regarding Max Pirkis as a young Jaime. He has the look and the composure.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

I have very mixed feelings about this news, though I mostly come down on the side of being deeply trepidatious. (Which I think is not a word, but...don't bog me down in details. *g*) In the end, though, "they" don't care what I think and will just go ahead and do it, so I'll watch (because I'm so easy that way) and, if it sucks, stop. But I'm really hoping to be pleasantly surprised, just as I was by LotR.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

I am hoping to be surprise too, but I think my biggest fear lies with the fact that the series isn't finished yet. They started filming Harry Potter before the series was finished, and IMHO that made an impact on the way Rowling wrote - and not in a good way. So I'm a little worried about that.

But Martin is a more experienced writer, and he has worked with television before, so all may yet be well.

Also - with LOTR it was directed by a huge fan in Peter Jackson. In addition, and I think this is important, there was already a long tradition to visualize and conceptualize Tolkiens world. For instance the paintings by Alan Lee, which the movie-verse could then base themselves upon. So when we saw LOTR in theaters it matched the images we already connect with Middle Earth, and therefore the movies looked right.
There is no such tradition behind Asoiaf, and so they have create everything from scratch. They might do fine of course, but ever since the horror that was Earthsea produced for television I'm a little hesitant.
(I don't know if you have seen that, and if you haven't just don't. *shivers*)

And now I sound like a whiney old hag, and therefore I will stop. ;P