Game Of Thrones: Age Of Heroes & The Long Night Explained

Once upon a time in Westeros.

Game of Thrones Night's King White Walker
HBO

HBO have at last confirmed just what Game of Thrones spin-off they're making and, unsurprisingly, it's going to be a prequel.

The network revealed last year that five potential spin-offs were in development, with Jane Goldman, Cary Wray, Bryan Cogman, Max Borenstein, and Brian Helgeland all drafting up ideas and scripts, the first three alongside George R.R. Martin himself.

All that was revealed then was that it would be something fans recognise, but not Robert's Rebellion. Now it is known that it's Goldman's script that is moving forward to pilot stage, with the Kick-Ass writer set to serve as showrunner should it get a series order (which, let's be honest, seems pretty likely).

The story, meanwhile, is one that fans will have heard of but not necessarily know too much about. Taking place thousands and thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the prequel will instead tackle the fabled Age of Heroes, and how it all started to go wrong. The official logline reads:

"Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East, to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.”

But what does all that mean?

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.