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There are dozens of key moments in the history of "A Song of Ice and Fire" that, had they gone another way, could've put characters on very different paths. What if Robb Stark had stuck to his original wedding plans? What if Bran had listened to his mother and not gone climbing? What if Ned Stark had taken the time to hear out the deserter from the Night's Watch who claimed that White Walkers were the real deal? These are all hypotheticals that could've changed "Game of Thrones" drastically, but one huge alteration that author George R. R. Martin had genuinely considered was having a time jump in the middle of a pivotal moment of his epic story.

Amidst all the deception, death, and dragons, Martin played with the idea of giving his characters a breather between "A Storm of Swords" and "A Feast for Crows," the third and fourth...

We’ve seen quite a lot of intimate scenes in Game of Thrones, and while Emilia Clarke had been on a lot of them, she had a special request that the showrunners failed to honor. It’s upsetting because the actress faced stressful times while performing these acts where she was required to bare it all, and still her only wish was not granted.

Daenerys Targaryen had a few lovers in the show whom she got very intimate with, but none of them were women. The British actress actually hoped her character would explore more of her s*xuality and perhaps find romance in fellow females, a thing that evidently did not happen.

Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones / Credits: HBO Emilia Clarke wanted lesbian love scenes in Game of Thrones

While Daenerys Targaryen never really engaged in homos*xual relationships in Game of Thrones, she’s had a few...

Plot: A haunting psychological thriller based on one of America’s most infamous figures. After the Waco siege, a chilling plan brews in the mind of army veteran Timothy McVeigh. What follows are the harrowing events leading up to the single deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.

Review: Anyone around in the 90s likely remembers the name Timothy McVeigh. And if you don’t, chances are the words “Oklahoma City Bomber” ring a bell at least. Serving as the deadliest act of homegrown terrorism in US History, the bombings were an absolutely tragic loss of life. Now, McVeigh looks to shed light on the motivations of the two bombers: Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh.

McVeigh is a slow-burn story that follows Timothy as he gets radicalized after the Waco shootings. He viewed himself as a constitutionalist and felt the government was fascist, not following the Declaration of Independence as intended.

As a psychological crime thriller, McVeigh (2025) relies on the tense atmosphere surrounding its characters. It centers around a war veteran who commits an act of domestic terrorism. Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) plays Timothy McVeigh, a real-life terrorist the film is based upon, who is the perpetrator of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Mike Ott has directed this film, whose efforts turn it into a brooding affair. The entire film feels like the silence before the storm. It shows McVeigh slowly getting sucked into a destructive philosophy that destroys several lives.

Spoilers Ahead

McVeigh (2025) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

Mike Ott’s direction makes McVeigh appear like a gradually escalating affair, leading up to something devastating. However, it steers clear of using heightened moments, turning the film into a study of the character’s indecipherable interiority. The film moves at a glacial pace and presents its protagonist as an enigma, whose...

It’s not the easiest task to talk to actors about such dark subject matter, especially when the events are based on reality. Brett Gelman gets into all of the research that went into his role as Terry Nichols, McVeigh’s partner and the one who taught him how to build bombs. I was then shocked to discover that Ashley Benson had been involved with the project for nearly 6 years! Anthony Carrigan was more soft-spoken, and I wish I could have gotten into something lighter like his Barry days. But he gets into what kind of research he was able to do, given that his character was mostly based on an unknown third assailant.

McVeigh is “a haunting psychological thriller based on one of America’s most infamous figures. After the Waco siege, a chilling plan brews in the mind of army veteran Timothy McVeigh. What follows are the harrowing...

The gears are in motion for a fifth John Wick movie, despite the character's seeming demise at the end of the fourth film. However, whether Keanu Reeves returns or not, there's one character you probably won't see in a future John Wick film. In an interview with Collider's Aidan Kelley for his new critically acclaimed movie Bob Trevino Likes It, legendary star John Leguizamo stated that his character, auto mechanic Aurelio, likely won't be back for another round.

Says Leguizamo, of the possibility of a return to the blockbuster action franchise:

Yeah…Well… I mean, I was cut out of 2, so I was not the happiest camper. I had a whole backstory and everything, but I don't want to get into all that.

On the suggestion that he could return Wick's car after being absent from the franchise since the second film, Leguizamo was very clear:

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

The cast of McVeigh shared how exactly the movie's true story—which is about the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing—eerily reflects today's society.

McVeigh follows a true story and stars Alfie Allen as Timothy McVeigh, the American domestic terrorist who, following the 1993 Waco raids, plans a devasting bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995.

The deadly attack killed 168 people.

Read full article on The Direct.

McVeigh is a haunting psychological thriller based on one of America's most infamous figures. After the Waco siege, a chilling plan brews in the mind of army veteran Timothy McVeigh. What follows are the harrowing events leading up to the single deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.

Alfie Allen plays the movie's title character and he's surrounded by a phenomenal supporting cast that includes Brett Gelman (Stranger Things), Ashley Benson (Pretty Little Liars), and Anthony Carrigan (Superman).

Earlier this week, we were fortunate enough to speak with them about their work on the must-see new movie. While we'll bring you a full transcription of our interview soon, Anthony was kind enough to share a few brief remarks about his role as Metamorpho in James Gunn's upcoming Dcu reboot.

The character's role in the story has been kept under wraps, though we did catch a glimpse of...

Timothy McVeigh ruthlessly murdered 167 men, women, and children when he bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It is the worst act of domestic terrorism in American history. McVeigh does not portray this man as a monster with devil's horns and scales. Director/co-writer Mike Ott uses subtlety to craft a chilling portrayal of a calculating white supremacist hellbent on causing the most carnage possible. You could have passed him on the street without much outward clue of his malicious intentions. McVeigh operated quietly in the shadows, but had allies and accomplices that shared his heinous vision. This is the most disturbing aspect of the film.

Alfie Allen stars as McVeigh. We first see him getting pulled over by a state trooper. He uses a fake driver's license to conceal his true identity. There doesn't seem to be anything threatening about the soft-spoken man. He's...

Cinema’s obsession with murderers – especially famous ones – seems never ending, yet the picture it paints is very different from reality. We’re all familiar with the latter-day movie archetype of the cool, charismatic killer, well dressed, bright-eyed, witty and smarter than everyone around him. Whilst a few well known murderers have perceived themselves that way, the reality tends to be very different. How does one successfully tell a story about someone who is socially withdrawn, living along, rarely speaking even when he is in company? How does one illustrate the development of his ideas when he keeps his thoughts locked up inside his head? Tony Stone tried it in 2001 with Ted K, his take on the story of the Unabomber, and now Mike Ott is here, taking a similar approach, with McVeigh.

It all hinges on finding the right actor. Whilst he’s no Sharlto Copley, Alfie Allen has acquitted.

At a time when the stories behind shocking headlines are routinely turned into true crime podcasts and star-studded Netflix series, the question of how to tell them ethically is often raised. For its part, Mike Ott’s McVeigh delivers about as un-exploitative and un-sensationalized a depiction of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh as could possibly be imagined—to the point that, if anything, the film ends up understated to a fault.

McVeigh begins with Timothy (Alfie Allen) driving down a country road as weathered as his car. Nothing happens for a spell, until Timothy is pulled over by a cop. But nothing much happens at this point either, and Timothy is soon free to continue on his way. Something about the relative lack of incident and the dreary, sparse environment puts us on edge. From the start, McVeigh thrums with a sense of alienation and hostility so pronounced that even those...

If HBO’s Game of Thrones taught us anything (besides never naming your kid Joffrey), it’s that no one was safe. Characters in the show were getting killed left and right, just as traumatically as the series finale. So it’s not surprising that Alfie Allen, who played Theon Greyjoy, kept asking the showrunners about his fate. After all, Westeros wasn’t exactly big on job security.

Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones | image: HBO

But instead of giving him a straight answer, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss decided to mess with him in true Game of Thrones fashion. They handed him a fake script where Theon dies and then went on to casually ask him if he’d like to return as a brainless zombie in the next series. Brutal? Yes. Funny? Also yes. Thankfully, Allen took it better than Theon would have.

Alfie Allen...

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This post contains spoilers for HBO's "Game of Thrones" and the "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series.

We're told over and over again throughout "Game of Thrones" that Jon Snow's whole deal is "being a bastard." Played by Kit Harington, Jon shows up in the pilot as the apparent bastard son of the honorable Ned Stark (Sean Bean), the patriarch of House Stark in the northern reaches of Westeros, and some random tavern wench. But when you learn more about Ned and his nature, the idea that Jon could possibly be the result of an affair seems sort of ludicrous. Despite that, Jon is constantly met with hostility from Ned's wife Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley), who thinks Jon is a reminder of Ned's greatest misstep as a husband, and he's not treated with as much kindness and respect...

Exclusive: ITV is among the first buyers to swoop for Mark Williams crime drama Safe Harbor here at the London TV Screenings.

We can reveal the UK broadcaster is joined by Ireland’s Virgin Media Television and Australia’s Sbs in acquiring the series from distributor Eccho Rights.

The eight-part series, which has been building buzz over the past year, will premiere on ITV streamer Itvx and Virgin in Ireland in the spring, with Sbs launching it later in the year. The sales are among the highest-profile deals unveiled at the London TV Screenings so far this week.

Safe Harbor, a high-octane action thriller set in the European drug trade, stars Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Colm Meaney (Hell on Wheels), Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones), and Martijn Lakemeier (Maxima).

It was commissioned by Dutch streamer Videoland and Belgium’s Streamz, with L.A-Dutch indie Submarine,...

This article discusses sensitive and potentially triggering topics, including, but not limited to, violence, child murder, and sexual assault. Please proceed with caution.

Game of Thrones is known for being one of the greatest shows of the 2010s, but despite its achievements, it was not a stranger to controversy. The show had one of the worst series finales of all time, devastating millions of fans who tuned in to see who would win the Game of Thrones. The series also gained a reputation for being unnecessarily violent and exploitative. There are dozens of Reddit threads and dedicated lists to Game of Thrones moments that went too far.

Plenty of dark episodes throughout the showare designed to make the audience feel uncomfortable or angry. Game of Thrones wasn't supposed to be a joyride, so plenty of episodes featured heavy emotional impact that would leave fans reeling. That said, some moments throughout the show were too much,...

One of the most influential television series in modern TV history, Game of Thronesushered in the modern era of "peak TV", bringing premium cable and streaming services to the forefront of the medium for the next 15 years. Over its dominant eight-season run, the series tackled the social and political turmoil of a fantasy universe in a more adult and complex way than television audiences had previously been exposed to.

One of the defining factors for Game of Thrones' immense success was its collection of three-dimensional and nuanced characters, and though the series lost a lot of goodwill with audiences in its less-than-ideal final seasons, the series always strived to have one of the best casts on TV. Many of the best characters in the series were the ones that were on-screen the most, giving audiences ample time to explore their arcs.

Theon Greyjoy Was Redeemed by the End of the...

The London TV Screenings, or London Screenings for short, the global TV industry event running Feb. 23-28, is ready for its close-up. The once low-key affair, where networks and sales outfits screen their latest shows for international buyers, has grown to can’t-miss status over the years. 2025 will be London Screenings’ time to shine, particularly without any competition from the now-defunct Mip TV.

That said, Mip will be holding its own inaugural Mip London event during the week, featuring panel discussions on industry trends, hot new properties from the likes of South Korea and Japan, as well as a session with David Beckham and Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria.

The London Screenings come at an inflection point for the global TV industry. After a sustained boom in high-end drama, networks, and streamers are again cutting costs and betting more on lower-cost non-fiction and reality shows. In the fiction arena,...

Last week, Variety published an article called, "The 100 Greatest TV Performances of the 21st Century," which does what it says it does. It's a fun article that honors a lot of the steller TV acting we've gotten to watch over the past 25 years. It's also fun because you get to read it and say things like, "Wait, why wasn't this performance I loved included?" or "They put that one on there?"

You can't make an article about the best TV for the 21st century and not include Game of Thrones on there somewhere. There are a lot of performances from Game of Thrones I think could be worthy of this kind of list, but Variety limited itself to one performance per show, and fair enough.

So who did they choose to represent Game of Thrones? Coming in at #19 on this list of 100 is Peter Dinklage, who played Tryion Lannister for all eight seasons.

A Predator movie directed by Shane Black, written by him and the director of The Monster Squad. This sounded like the recipe for an awesome sci-fi action horror film, but what Black delivered was one of the least popular films in the Predator franchise, with a third act that was completely different from what was originally written and a variety of bad ideas being filmed as potential endings. Critics were unimpressed. Fans were disappointed. And now, we’re going to dig into what happened to The Predator.

1987 was a huge year for Shane Black. His original screenplay Lethal Weapon was turned into an action classic by director Richard Donner. His friend, director Fred Dekker, brought their script for the creature feature The Monster Squad to the screen, creating a film that is now considered to be a cult classic. And he was cast alongside the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers,...

Social media isn’t just a way for actors to connect with fans as it’s now influencing their careers in ways many wouldn’t expect. Actress Maya Hawke, known for her role in Stranger Things shared that she considered quitting Instagram but was advised against it by directors who explained how much it mattered in Hollywood.

Maya Hawke in Stranger Things | Credits: Netflix

Hawke isn’t the only one who has faced this reality. One social media user, named Joe Russo, claimed that in 2020, a Game of Thrones actor was not cast in a movie because he didn’t have enough Instagram followers.

Why was Maya Hawke told not to quit Instagram?

For many actors, social media can feel exhausting, but deleting it isn’t always an option. Actress Maya Hawke recently shared that, despite wanting to leave Instagram, she has been convinced to stay by several well-known directors.

"A movie rooted in small-town American rage." Yep it definitely seems like it. Decal Releasing has unveiled an official trailer for a psychological thriller film titled McVeigh, yes indeed about the notorious domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh. Not sure why we need this film right now? Or ever? McVeigh is directed by indie filmmaker Mike Ott, and it first premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival last year - it's next available to watch in March. A haunting psychological thriller based on one of America's most infamous figures. After the Waco siege, a chilling plan brews in the mind of army veteran Timothy McVeigh. What follows are the harrowing events leading up to the single deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history - the Oklahoma City federal building bombing in 1995. Starring Alfie Allen as Tim, Brett Gelman, Tracy Letts, Ashley Benson, and Anthony Carrigan. There was a movie just few...

“McVeigh,” which premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival and will soon be in theaters, tells the story behind the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that left 168 people dead and 675 injured.

Director Mike Ott’s narrative film “McVeigh” charts the days leading up to the attack, with Alfie Allen portraying domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh. Brett Gelman plays Terry Nichols, with “Barry” breakout Anthony Carrigan, Tracy Letts, and Ashley Benson co-starring.

“Actor Martinez” filmmaker Ott co-wrote the film with his “California Dreams” co-writer Alex Gioulakis.

The official synopsis reads: “A haunting psychological thriller based on one of America’s most infamous figures. After the Waco siege, a chilling plan brews in the mind of army veteran Timothy McVeigh. What follows are the harrowing events leading up to the single deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.”

“McVeigh” is produced by Miles Alva, Ash Christian, Nicolaas Bertelsen, Joe Pirro, Shaum S. Sengupta, and Monte Zajicek.

As much as we hate the villains of Game of Thrones, there’s something charismatic about them that we tend to love despite their evil actions and intentions. Even George R.R. Martin, who has been inside the minds of the most loathsome characters in his books, still feels empathy towards them to an extent.

George R.R. Martin in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert / Credits: YouTube

It’s undeniable that the famed fantasy show has some of the most iconic antagonists in television history. Not all the time we get such figures with so much depth and complexity that sometimes we feel sorry for them.

George R.R. Martin explains why he loves these three villains

George R.R. Martin has done many interviews where people ask him about his favorite characters, but in his conversation with io9 (via Reddit), he responded to a question about those he had fallen out of love with.

After two weeks since making its return, BBC One’s TV series Rogue Heroes Season 2 has already garnered very promising reviews from critics. Prior to the latest installment’s premiere, fans had a two-year waiting period, after the World War II drama had wrapped up Season 1’s 6-episode run on BBC One.

Per review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Rogue Heroes Season 2 has officially received a perfect Tomatometer score, based on five reviews. As Jack Seale of the Guardian said, “With its sober view of sacrifice and its clever use of extreme adversity to bring out different facets of the male psyche, Rogue Heroes earns its stripes, but be reassured that with all that groundwork in place it is, primarily, a right old romp.” Directed by Stephen Woolfenden from a screenplay written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the first four episodes of Season 2 are now available for streaming on the BBC iPlayer in the U.

Did you know that the creator of Peaky Blinders has an action-packed war drama with a great cast and perfect reviews? Most Americans don't, unfortunately, because Epix and MGM+ aren't exactly on everyone's radar. But if Rogue Heroes was a Netflix or Prime Video series, it's almost a sure bet that it would be a massive hit here in the States. With the upcoming second season garnering a perfect 100% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes (just like Season 1), now is a good time to try MGM+ (even if it's for a free trial).

Rogue Heroes comes from the United Kingdom, where it is a popular and beloved series on BBC One. Its premiere episode had more than 6.5 million viewers (in a seven-day period), with each episode of the first season maintaining more than five million viewers an episode. The series follows the creation and deployment of the British Army's Special Air Services,...

This article contains spoilers for many major fantasy TV shows!For every unforgettable moment in a fantasy TV show, there are just as many controversial moments that push viewers to their breaking point. Even the most popular fantastical TV series in history have included scenes that were so polarizing that audiences stop watching the show altogether. Typically, these plot points revolve around the introduction or exit of characters, as this can dramatically alter the series' dynamic and be devastating to witness. TV deaths often spark outrage when viewers feel that the character didn't deserve to be killed off and still had more to contribute.

There are many fantasy TV scenes that make no sense, but this is more excusable, as the complex magic systems and world-building in speculative fiction shows can become confusing. However, when a series makes a concrete and avoidable choice that alienates audience members, it's much more difficult to accept this.

While reality-based TV shows are often known for garnering significant attention, it was the fantasy epic Game of Thrones that changed the landscape of TV drama by capturing the world’s attention, in the most unprecedented way. But while the HBO series turned into a cultural phenomenon, Alfie Allen, who played Theon Greyjoy, reflected on the behind-the-scenes challenges of bringing the character to life.

Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones | image: HBO

According to Alfie Allen, the harrowing experience of playing the polarizing character, who endured unimaginable trauma and identity crisis, opened his eyes to broader societal issues. While being candid about the mental and emotional toll of embodying Theon, Allen thus reflected on how the character forced him to look into men’s mental health and the effects of toxic masculinity.

Alfie Allen claimed to be satisfied with his Game of Thrones character’s heroic demise...

Game of Thrones, one of the most renowned shows, has countless behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and every other day we learn a new detail that makes us want to re-watch the whole thing all over again (maybe not the last season). Among all the interesting stories, the one that involves our favorite cast members gets the most attention, and rightfully so!

Game of Thrones | HBO

Kit Harington and Richard Madden who portrayed Jon Snow and Robb Stark, respectively, had a little bit of competition going on while filming. It wasn’t about swords or thrones, but something much more personal, as revealed by another notable actor on the show.

Alfie Allen on Kit Harington and Richard Madden’s competition on Game of Thrones sets Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones | HBO

In an interview with The Guardian, Alfie Allen, who was Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, revealed how...

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This January, we are getting a ton of great shows on various streaming services, from the animated Spider-Man coming to Disney+ to the much anticipated second season of the incredibly popular Netflix series The Night Manager. So, we are here to sort out all of the brilliant upcoming shows that you might want to check out.

Mayfair Witches Season 2 (AMC+) Release Date: January 4 Credit – AMC

Mayfair Witches is a gothic horror supernatural thriller drama series created by Michelle Ashford and Esta Spalding. Based on the Lives of the Mayfair Witches by Anne Rice, Season 2 of the AMC series continues the story of Rowan Fielding as she embraces the darkness within her. Mayfair Witches stars Alexandra Daddario, Jen Richards, Jack Huston, Annabeth Gish, Harry Hamlin, and Tongayi Chirisa.

American Primeval (Netflix) Release Date: January 9 Credit – Netflix

American Primeval is...

Exclusive: Following the success of their Western Old Henry, which the National Board of Review named one of the Top Ten Independent Films of 2021, Hideout Pictures is back in the saddle with The Isolate Thief, a new Western to star Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings franchise), Mackenzie Foy (Interstellar), and Odeya Rush (Lady Bird).

Directed by John Suits (3022), the film is set at the close of the U.S. Civil War, as a young woman struggles to conceal the gold she stole from a group of violent outlaws who have seized control of her remote outpost. As the men relentlessly hunt for the treasure, she must outwit and deceive the ruthless bandits at every turn. Amid a deadly winter, survival transforms into a perilous game of cunning and betrayal.

Suits called the film “a story about resilience, survival, and the strength it takes to outlast the harshest odds—both from nature and humanity,...

Exclusive: The first trailer for European crime drama Safe Harbor is here and it delivers on writer and showrunner Mark Williams aim to ensure viewers get a bang for their buck. “It was important that I blow stuff up because I just like doing that, and also to make sure that stakes are high enough that it feels elevated,” the Ozark co-creator tells Deadline of his new show.

He adds: “It was an opportunity for me to try something a little bit different, to try to bring what I learned from my past experiences to Europe and to do something more global minded – an entertaining show that could reach wide audiences but do it in a location that was a little less familiar, to me anyway.”

The drama revolves around Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port. It follows gifted hacker Tobias, played by Alfie Allen, and his ambitious best friend Marco,...

The John Wick franchise’s surprising accuracy to the mafia explains why Keanu Reeves’ titular character has appeared in four highly successful movies. John Wick has become a massive name in the action movie genre in the last decade as Keanu Reeves's character has become a fan-favorite all over the world. As a result of the movie franchise’s $1 billion box office success, John Wick now has many spinoff TV shows and future movies planned for development; one of which includes the new Ballerina movie set in John Wick’s universe, which will release in June 2025.

Despite the many changes in the John Wick franchise since its 2014 movie, there is one thing that remains the same; the way the world of John Wick has been built around a mafia-like system of hitmen. As characters navigate this world, they find themselves battling over targets and forming allies in a way...

Hardcore Game of Thrones fans, rejoice. If your favorite character from the juggernaut TV series/franchise is Jon Snow, then you'll be pleased to know the character is back in a big way. The new mobile video game, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad heavily features Snow, with original actor Kit Harington back to voice the character, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Gamers got their first look at the Kingsroad on December 12, 2024 at the Game Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The two minute trailer features tons of bloody battle action and some other familiar faces, including Varys (Conleth Hill), Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) sitting on the franchise's iconic Iron Throne. The clip ends with a looming giant White Walker attack, and Snow in voice over saying, "Whether you like it or not, winter is coming."

There Might Be Even More Jon Snow in Future Projects

The official description reads...

To be a Game of Thrones fan is masochistic work. Because with every day that passes, the chances of ever seeing George R.R. Martin's written conclusion to his A Song of Ice and Fire series get smaller and smaller. Sure, the HBO iteration did, well, something with the author's road map and over-arching story plan. But whether or not it was a satisfying, nuanced ending to the story is another thing entirely, and up for contentious debate among fans.

The prolific-yet-meandering author has long brushed off worries about his completion of his Westerosi story as overblown. But in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the author admits that maybe those fans are right — maybe he won't finish the book. After all, as he admits: "Unfortunately, I am 13 years late."

"Every time I say that," the author admitted, "I'm [like], 'How could I be 13 years late?'" But for Martin,...

This article contains mentions of rape and torture.

There are plenty of sympathetic, well-liked, and impressive characters in Game of Thrones. Although Westeros is an undeniably terrible place, there are a few individuals who earn the viewers' admiration through their honesty and kindness. However, not all characters can become instant fan favorites.

On the contrary, there are plenty of characters in both shows who are widely disliked by the audience. This hateability factor might be intentionally woven into their character arcs; people like Ramsay Bolton and Joffrey Baratheon are eminently objectionable. At the same time, there are a few characters who just fail to hit the mark. Whether it's due to personal flaws, irredeemable actions, or feeble writing, there are some characters fans simply can't stand.

Updated on December 7, 2024, by Arthur Goyaz: Throughout eight seasons, Game of Thrones has introduced a range of multilayered characters whose moral compass is often put at stake.

"Rogue Heroes",  the six-part live-action TV series from "Peaky Blinders" writer Steven Knight, directed by Tom Shankland, stars Connor Swindells, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Allen and Sofia Boutella streaming January 12, 2025 on MGM+:

"... during 'World War II', 'David Stirling', an eccentric young officer is hospitalized after a training exercise gone wrong. Convinced that traditional commando units don't work, Stirling creates a radical plan that flies in the face of all accepted rules of modern warfare. 

"He fights for permission to recruit the toughest, boldest and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines. More rebels than soldiers, Stirling's team is every bit as complicated, flawed, and reckless as it is brave and heroic..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin opens up about the status of the hit series' final novel.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Martin was asked about the status of the final novel in the long-running A Song of Fire and Ice series, The Winds of Winter, which fans have been hotly-anticipating the release of for well over a decade. "Unfortunately, I am 13 years late," Martin responded. "Every time I say that, I'm [like], 'How could I be 13 years late?' I don’t know, it happens a day at a time... But that's still a priority. A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They're saying] 'Oh, he'll never be finished.' Maybe they're right. I don't know. I'm alive right now! I seem pretty vital!"

Related Game of Thrones' Most Terrifying Villains Received a Huge Change From the Books

The White Walkers are painted as the ultimate villain in Westeros,...

When asked why George R.R. Martin is their favorite author, his fans generally give the answers you'd expect:: his stories contain vibrant characters, they take place in worlds of gritty realism, the dialogue sings...but the most important reason is that his writing always leaves them wanting more.

I am one such person. From the first time I read A Game of Thrones I have been desperate to know what happens next, to read just a few more pages of an author whose work launched a global revolution in the fantasy genre. For fans of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, it has been a very long wait. Famously, the last (fully) published novel in the series, A Dance with Dragons, came out in 2011… only weeks after the conclusion of Season 1 of Game of Thrones, HBO's adaptation of the books.

In the decade-plus since, Martin has worked...

"Rogue Heroes",  the six-part live-action TV series from "Peaky Blinders" writer Steven Knight, directed by Tom Shankland, stars Connor Swindells, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Allen and Sofia Boutella streaming in 2025 on MGM+:

"... during 'World War II', 'David Stirling', an eccentric young officer is hospitalized after a training exercise gone wrong. Convinced that traditional commando units don't work, Stirling creates a radical plan that flies in the face of all accepted rules of modern warfare. 

"He fights for permission to recruit the toughest, boldest and brightest soldiers for a small undercover unit that will create mayhem behind enemy lines. More rebels than soldiers, Stirling's team is every bit as complicated, flawed, and reckless as it is brave and heroic..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden is set to join a new gothic horror movie that will reunite two of Game of Thrones' biggest stars.

Per Deadline, Harden will join Sophie Turner and Kit Harington in a new horror film titled The Dreadful. The film also stars Laurence OFuarain (The Gentlemen) and Jonathan Howard (Thor: The Dark World). The film will reportedly be set during the War of the Roses, a period in which several civil wars were waged for control of the English throne. The Dreadful follows "Anne (Turner) and her sinister mother-in-law Morwen (Harden), who live a solitary, harsh life on the outskirts of society. But when a man (Harington) from their past returns, he sets off a sequence of horrifying events that become a turning point for Anne."

Related George R.R. Martin Teases New Project With Game of Thrones Star Maisie Williams

George R.R. Martin teases a "fun...

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Dune: Prophecy is an epic sci-fi thriller drama series developed by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker. Based on the Great Schools of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, the HBO series is set in Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune universe and it revolves around the origins of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful group of women who insert themselves in powerful positions to influence political and religious forces in all of the great houses. Dune: Prophecy stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Chloe Lea, Chris Mason, and Mark Strong. So, if you loved the epic sci-fi drama, complex stories, and compelling characters in Dune: Prophecy here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Foundation (Apple TV+) Credit – Apple TV+

Foundation is a sci-fi drama series created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman.

Sometimes, a television series delivers a shocking moment by killing off what may seem like a main character. While some of these may be done for shock value, sometimes, the show also needs to do it to push things forward. A major character's death has a significant impact on the plot. Ned Stark's death in the first season of Game of Thrones is a great example.

Not only does it start a war between the North and the South, but it also sets Game of Thrones in motion. Similarly, Lost too has a significant death early in the show that holds significance. However, like Ned Stark in Game of Thrones, television shows often choose a great or beloved character to maximize the impact of their death.

Ned Stark Leaves Game of Thrones in Season 1, Episode 9

At the beginning of Game of Thrones, Ned Stark seemed like a major player.

The fantasy drama Game of Thrones is considered one of the best TV series of all time, despite its divisive finale. Following its success on HBO, the network continued to bet on George R.R. Martin's works, and, at one point, a spin-off series starring Kit Harington's Jon Snow was in the works.

The main series ended in 2019 after eight seasons, and a Jon Snow follow-up was considered. Its status remained uncertain since the announcement, but now HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed the series has been shelved after actor Kit Harington echoed the same sentiment earlier this year. However, he gave a hopeful answer about the character's future, Deadline reports.

Related George R.R. Martin Teases New Project With Game of Thrones Star Maisie Williams

George R.R. Martin teases a "fun" project with Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams in a new blog post on his website.

"Maybe well try again,...

The rumors are true: a Game of Thrones movie is now in the planning stages at HBO. Original author George R.R. Martin's criticism about the spinoff series, House of the Dragon, has also been addressed.

Recently, it was reported that a Game of Thrones film was in early development. Per Variety, this report has been confirmed by HBO and Max chief Casey Bloys during a press event on Tuesday. While it was stressed that the project is still in its infancy and not yet officially greenlit, Bloys teased that Martin is directly involved with the creative process. As long as there's a screenplay that everyone is happy with, then production on the movie will be able to move forward.

Related The Penguin Gives a Key Villain the Same Arc As a House of the Dragons Hero

Episode 4 of The Penguin gives a major character a journey that is very...

Game of Thrones catapulted many young stars into mainstream popularity. Among the most beloved faces in George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series was Maisie Williams, who rose to prominence for her portrayal of the fiercely independent Arya Stark. Towards the end of the series, she is seen bidding farewell to Jon Snow and on the docks of King's Landing before sailing to the west of Westeros. Now, Martins new update hints that this open-ended storyline could easily be twisted into a new beginning for Arya Stark.

In a recent post on his personal website, Not a Blog, the mastermind behind the Game of Thrones universe mentioned his visit to London, where he had the pleasure of meeting with Maisie Williams over a meal. During their conversation, they discussed something that Martin says could be so much fun, and certainly sounds like another spin-off...

We also got together with Maisie Williams for pizza and pasta,...

Let's be honest: not every "Game of Thrones" episode is a winner. Sure, the show's first four seasons are basically unimpeachable — and I think a strong argument can be made that, in the aftermath of a particularly bleak fifth entry, season 6 is actually really good — but the drop-off in quality when you get into the show's (frequently derided) later seasons is quite apparent, resulting in some really rough episodes. So, which ones are the absolute worst of the worst?

Because I can't nominate "all of season 7 and 8" for this dubious honor, I made some tough decisions and chose the five absolute crappiest "Game of Thrones" episodes, though there were some contenders I couldn't include here. Basically anything involving the Dorne plotline could have qualified, or anything involving the faceless assassin school in Braavos that beats the spirit out of Maisie Williams' Arya Stark. But installments like "No One" or "Mother's...

Before Keanu Reeves, John Wick considered a much different, yet very familiar, action star for the role.

While celebrating the original John Wick's tenth anniversary with The Hollywood Reporter, co-director David Leitch revealed that Die Hard's Bruce Willis almost played Wick in an earlier draft of the movie's script. "We were first exposed to the script by our manager at the time, Kelly McCormick, who's now my wife and producer. She had introduced us to Basil Iwanyk and Peter Lawson at Basil's company [Thunder Road] to maybe do second unit work on that script. So that was the first time we read it, and I think Bruce Willis mightve been attached at that time," he recalled.

Related 'Will Miss [Him] Dreadfully': Lance Reddick Remembered by Ian McShane for John Wick's 10th Anniversary

Ian McShane pays tribute to late Lance Reddick, his co-star in John Wick and the spin-off Ballerina.

Ian McShane, who played Winston in the John Wick films, has expressed his sadness for his late co-star Lance Reddick. Reddick and Shane worked closely on the Keanu Reeves-led action franchise and are due to appear together one last time in Ballerina.

"Because [Reddick's] no longer with us another one that I will miss dreadfully," McShane said, per EW, in speaking of his on-screen criminal consort at a 10th anniversary screening of John Wick in L.A. "But we have Ballerina coming out, in which he'll [be seen] for the last time, we have that together. I thought we made a really good double act, as we say, in a sense. It was great, his relationship is different to mine with Keanu's character. My moments with him, I think, I'll remember [most]."

I thought we made a really good double act, as we say, in a sense.

Related 'That's What Makes It...

John Wick's cult following is largely comprised of action fans starving for hard-hitting stunt scenes. Director Chad Stahelski says one sequence in the first movie was particularly difficult to film.

The John Wick franchise is set to explore new arcs in upcoming spinoff films and TV series. This success can be credited to the first film's straightforward action and story premise: a hitman comes out of retirement to avenge his dead puppy. John Wick's first rampage began after a group of Russian gangsters killed his beagle. Speaking with Screen Rant, director Chad Stahelski said John Wick's mourning was one of the hardest scenes in the movie. The latter also turned out to be a huge creative risk; Stahelski admitted he wasn't sure how that scene would impact the tone of the film.

Related John Wick Director Reveals Where the Character's Name Comes From

John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski...

John Wick director Chad Stahelski has revealed how the title character received his name. The filmmaker explained that there is a familial connection between "John Wick" and franchise creator/screenwriter Derek Kolstad.

Speaking with Screen Rant for its John Wick 10th anniversary cover story, Stahelski opened up about the history behind the title character's name, revealing that it's based on the name of Kolstad's grandfather. "It's Derek Kolstad's grandfather's name. Derek wrote it. He wrote in his grandpa, who we really respect. You'd have to ask Derek the actual story. Derek just told me a little bit about his grandpa," the filmmaker shared. "We had very similar Polish grandfathers, so we would talk about their etiquette and their type. Very proper gentleman-type people, but Derek told me his name was John Wick, and he wanted to give tribute to his grandfather. We thought that was super cool."

Related John Wick...