Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon return in Game of Thrones prequel 'The Mad King'

Game of Thrones gets a prequel

• Game of Thrones: The Mad King play debuts at Royal Shakespeare Theatre
• The play is a prequel set over ten years before Game of Thrones
• It covers the Tourney at Harrenhal and Robert's Rebellion events

Did our AI summary help?

The eagerly anticipated play Game of Thrones: The Mad King by George R. R. Martin, which reunites Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon, and Jaime Lannister, will make its world premiere this year at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Martin said in the statement that Shakespeare has always been an inspiration to him and it was an honour to have the play performed in the renowned location.

Martin, who serves as the project’s creator and executive producer, said, “When I first wrote Game of Thrones, I never imagined that it would be anything other than a book.”

He added, “It was a place for my imagination to exist without limits. To my great surprise, it was adapted for a series and viewers have been able to enter the world of my imagination through the medium of television. For my work to now be adapted for the stage is something I did not expect but welcome with great enthusiasm and excitement. Theatre offers something unique. A place for mine and the audience’s imagination to meet and hopefully create something magical.”

When considering putting a Game of Thrones story on stage, the author claimed that the Royal Shakespeare Company was the natural choice.

He further added, “Shakespeare is the greatest name in English literature, and his plays have been a constant source of inspiration to me and my writing. Not only that, he faced similar challenges in how to put a battle on stage, so we are in good company. It will be thrilling to watch the events of this new play unfold in a live environment. Duncan’s masterful script honours the world completely, and I am so excited for both fans of the series, and perhaps people who have never picked up one of my books, to experience this new story in a theatre.”

Also Read: HBO confirms Game of Thrones prequels House of the Dragon Season 4 and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2

According to a joint statement from director Cooke and story adaptor Macmillan, the play is a prequel and takes place more than ten years before the events of Game of Thrones.

Adapted by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke, the project is based on Martin's novels and tells the account of the tragic Tourney at Harrenhal that resulted in Robert Baratheon's Rebellion and the collapse of House Targaryen.