Game Of Thrones: 4 Spin-Offs HBO Should Make (& 3 They Shouldn't)

3. The Blackfyre Rebellion(s)

Although not a period discussed in great detail in the series, meaning it doesn't have that same instantaneous connection as other series would, the Blackfyre Rebellion would perhaps be the most natural successor to Game of Thrones in terms of story.

While the first Civil War - The Dance of the Dragons - has more potential for fire-breathing dragon frenzy, the second (and the First Blackfyre Rebellion) has got everything needed for the sort of interwoven political story to which fans are accustomed (and is a more reasonably possibility, budget wise, if such wishlists should even consider such things).

Taking place around 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones, it sees King Aemon IV Targaryen legitimise all of his bastard sons, most notably Daemon Waters, whom he hands the Valyrian steel longsword Blackfyre (previously wielded by Aegon the Conqueror). Daemon sees this as is father recognising him as the rightful heir, attempts to claim the Iron Throne for himself after his father's passing, despite it passing to his half-brother, Daeron II Targaryen.

This led to the founding of House Blackfyre, and a Civil War that split the Seven Kingdoms in two, with Daemon and his fellow bastards fighting against Daeron and those loyal to him. It lasted over a year, with battles being waged all over Westeros, from the Vale to the Reach, culminating in the Battle of the Redgrass Field, which Daeron's forces won, with a lot of help from the key figure Brynden Rivers, a captivating character (and himself a bastard) with some familiarity to viewers already. There's a lot of interfamily drama here, and of course all the requisite action, sex, and violence, while focusing on one of the most important houses in Westerosi history that we haven't actually seen too much of.

We've seen how captivating the battle for the Iron Throne can be, and this has the potential to keep on running: after this Blackfyre Rebellion there was a second, third, and fourth attempt, right up to the War of the Ninepenny Kings, which features young versions of Tywin Lannister and Barristan Selmy making names for themselves (and far enough removed from the main series). Martin himself would be a perfect fit for this given the lore, the characters, and the political machinations, with Goldman a good fit too for the amount of action (and a dose of Targ-craziness) involved.