George R.R. Martin Confirms ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ Ending Will Differ Dramatically from ‘Game of Thrones’ – Here’s How

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George R.R. Martin recently discussed the future of his A Song of Ice and Fire book series, emphasizing that the ending will diverge significantly from the HBO series, Game of Thrones. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he provided updates on his writing progress, the story’s direction, and the anticipated release of The Winds of Winter.

George R.R. Martin has confirmed the show and his books will have different endings. He explained that some characters who survive in his novels will die in the TV series, and some who die on screen will live in the books. He also suggested he intends to kill off more characters in his writing than the show did.

I originally planned for more characters to die, beyond those who did in the show. The show’s ending felt too optimistic to me, especially for Tyrion, whose story I always envisioned as a tragedy. I even considered killing Sansa, but the actress portrayed her so well that I might spare her.

Martin, who is 77 years old, addressed recent health concerns and rumors, letting fans know he’s doing well and still fully managing his work. He jokingly suggested a headline reading, “George R.R. Martin Is Not Dying.”

George R.R. Martin confirmed that he’s still actively writing The Winds of Winter. He’s written about 1,100 pages, but the intricate plot is making the process challenging. He frequently revises his work, sometimes completely rewriting or even deleting chapters that don’t quite fit the overall story. He explained that he often finds himself looking at his latest work and realizing it needs significant improvement, leading him to switch focus or rework large sections.

Martin confirmed he’s committed to finishing the series himself, dismissing any suggestions of a co-author or someone taking over the writing. He explained that if he weren’t able to complete it, he would consider his life’s work incomplete, much like some famous novels left unfinished throughout history.

Game of Thrones’ popularity has opened many doors for Martin, including new projects for television and expanding the world of Westeros. While he’s working on several things – like the Dunk and Egg stories and another book in the Fire & Blood series – he maintains that finishing The Winds of Winter is his main focus.

Martin hinted that the last book in the series might be quite lengthy, as he has a lot of material he wants to include. However, he also acknowledged that his motivation levels can sometimes slow him down. He explained, “Sometimes I just don’t feel like working on it, and I’m already so far behind.”

George R.R. Martin understands fans are eager for the story to end, and he assures them he’s still working on it and committed to finishing the series.

Have thoughts about how the series might end? Share your predictions in the comments.

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2026-01-16 18:44