19 Things That Almost Completely Changed Game Of Thrones

Apparently, Game Of Thrones could well have been called Everyone Loves Arya Stark. Or at least that would have been the case if George RR Martin's initial plans for the sprawling fantasy book series that has defined the lives of TV watchers for the past four years had come to fruition. The writer - notorious for his penchant for bloody murder, rampant sexuality and profanity (what's not to love?) - has seen his earliest Game Of Thrones ideas hit the net in the past few days, confirming that he's come quite a long way since he first envisaged the world of Westeros. Inevitably, though that outline is conspicuous for its differences all of the Martin hallmarks still exist: it was still twisty, sexy and riddled with political intrigue and spilled blood after all. But had it come to pass, fans would have been welcomed to a Song Of Ice And Fire with a completely different tune. And those changes aren't the only things to have reshaped the show's history: story details have changed, but more importantly so too has the cast. So with that in mind, and with the show amping up for its return in April, what better a time than to look back at what might have been in an alternative Game Of Thrones world? Inevitably, some spoilers for forthcoming seasons of Game Of Thrones do follow - they're light, but they're there.