Game of Thrones Author George R.R. Martin Warns Ongoing Strikes May Be ‘Long and Bitter’

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin has warned the ongoing actors’ and writers’ strikes could be “long and bitter” and that his HBO deal is suspended as a result.

Speaking on his blog, Martin wrote as part of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and in solidarity with the Screen Actors Guild: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), revealing he has so far been on several picket lines.

“I joined the WGA in 1986 and have been through several strikes with them,” Martin said. “We made gains in all of them, but some issues are more important than others, and this year’s strike is the most important of my lifetime.

“An unnamed producer was quoted last week saying the strategy was to stand fast until the writers started losing their homes and apartments, which gives you a hint of what we’re facing.”

“No one can be certain where we go from here, but I have a bad feeling that this strike will be long and bitter.

Martin continued: “I have never seen such unity in the guilds; the strike authorization votes for both SAG and WGA were as close to unanimous as we are ever likely to see. No one can be certain where we go from here, but I have a bad feeling that this strike will be long and bitter. It may get as bad as the infamous 1985 strike, though I hope not.”

The author also shared that his HBO deal was suspended on June 1, and though it’s unclear exactly what the suspension means, it’s likely a temporary fixture that will last for the duration of at least the WGA strike. HBO certainly has plenty of Games of Thrones spin-off shows in development, including the ongoing House of the Dragon and another called The Hedge Knight.

Martin assured that the former is proceeding as planned, as most of its actors are part of the UK’s Equity union instead of the United States’ SAG-AFTRA.

“I am told the second season is half done,” Martin said. All of the scripts had been finished months before the WGA strike began. No writing has been done since, to the best of my knowledge. [House of the Dragon] is shot mostly in London (and a little bit in Wales, Spain, and various other locations), which is why filming has continued.”

Production on House of the Dragon is therefore business as usual, as Equity members have no legal protection from being fired or sued by striking in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.