Game of Thrones author George RR Martin addresses claims that the upcoming prequel series, House Of The Dragon, is anti-women.
George RR Martin defended his fictional world at a Comic-Con panel in San Diego earlier this month.
On the panel, he commented on how the fictional world of Westeros is inspired by and true to history.
San Diego Comic Con
George RR Martin said, “I get inspiration from history, and then I take elements from history and I turn it up to 11,”
“I don’t think Westeros is particularly more anti-women or misogynistic than real life and what we call history,” he added.
The Game of Thrones creator also said, “Game of Thrones is, as many people have observed, based very loosely on the War of the Roses. [House Of The Dragon] is based on an earlier period in history called the Anarchy,”
Olivia Cooke
George RR Martin’s comments at Comic Con come off the back of a previous interview that The Telegraph conducted with House Of The Dragon star, Olivia Cooke.
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable in being a part of anything that has just egregious graphic violence towards women for no reason whatsoever,” she told the newspaper.
“Just because they want it to be tantalising in a way that gets viewers. I was lucky enough to read the [prequel] script before, and it has changed a lot from the first seasons of Game of Thrones,” Olivia Cooke added.
So, although both sexual violence and abuse of women are rife within history, does that make it necessary to depict it in fantasy television shows like Game of Thrones and House Of The Dragon?
Miguel Sapochnik
According to House Of The Dragon co-showrunner and director Miguel Sapochnik, the answer is yes.
Talking to the Hollywood Reporter, Miguel Sapochnik says, “[We] don’t shy away from it. If anything, we’re going to shine a light on that aspect,”
“You can’t ignore the violence perpetrated on women by men at that time. It shouldn’t be downplayed and it shouldn’t be glorified,”
Elsewhere, Miguel Sapochnik also said that House Of The Dragon “pulls back” on the series of consensual sex but that sexual assault is a strong theme in the script.
House Of The Dragon
House Of The Dragon is the forthcoming Game Of Thrones prequel series premiering via HBO on August 21 2022.
The premier for the anticipated show took place last night (Wednesday, July 27). However, author George RR Martin missed the showing.
This was apparently related to contracting COVID at San Diego Comic Con
Previously mentioned Olivia Cooke stars in House Of The Dragon alongside Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Paddy Considine and Savannah Steyn.
Feature image credit: HBO