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HBO Executive Defends House of the Dragon Showrunner After George RR Martin's Criticism
Casey Bloys says Ryan Condal has been an "excellent showrunner" despite Martin's claims of a "abysmal" relationship.
Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:47pm
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HBO executive Casey Bloys has defended House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal after author George R.R. Martin criticized their working relationship as "abysmal" due to disputes over changes to his book Fire & Blood. Bloys said that while creative disagreements are normal, Condal has been an "excellent showrunner" and a "great partner and collaborator" on the Game of Thrones prequel series.
Why it matters
The relationship between Martin, the creator of the Game of Thrones universe, and the showrunners of the various adaptations is closely watched by fans. Bloys' comments aim to reassure viewers that despite the reported tensions, the creative vision for House of the Dragon remains strong.
The details
Martin recently revealed that his collaboration with Condal, whom he had handpicked as showrunner, deteriorated during the second season of House of the Dragon. While the two worked well together in the first season, with Martin providing notes that Condal incorporated, the author said Condal stopped listening to his feedback in the second season. Condal would sometimes justify his decisions or say he would consider the notes without making changes, leading to growing frustration from Martin.
- In March 2025, filming began on House of the Dragon season 3.
- House of the Dragon season 3 is set to premiere in summer 2026.
The players
Casey Bloys
The chief content officer at HBO, who is defending the work of House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal.
Ryan Condal
The showrunner of House of the Dragon, who has been praised by Bloys but criticized by George R.R. Martin for his handling of the series.
George R.R. Martin
The author of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series, on which the Game of Thrones universe is based. He has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the changes made to his work in the House of the Dragon adaptation.
What they’re saying
“[Condal] has been an excellent showrunner and a really great partner and collaborator, so we embrace his vision and his creative choices, or we wouldn't have done it.”
— Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer, HBO
“I hired Ryan. I thought Ryan and I were partners. And we were all through the first season. I would read early drafts of the scripts. I would give notes. He would change some things. It was working really well — I thought.”
— George R.R. Martin
What’s next
House of the Dragon season 3 is set to premiere in summer 2026, though an exact release date has not yet been announced.
The takeaway
The creative tensions between George R.R. Martin and the showrunners of the Game of Thrones adaptations highlight the challenges of translating complex literary works to the screen. Despite the reported disputes, HBO remains committed to Condal's vision for House of the Dragon, underscoring the network's desire to maintain the integrity of Martin's original work while also allowing for creative interpretation.
