Robert’s Rebellion: A Case for the Game of Thrones Prequel Season 

would run for at least three more seasons (extending the number of projected seasons from seven to eight). He also said something interesting about the potential for a prequel:

I think you’re right, there’s enormous storytelling to be mined in a prequel.

Lombardo mentioned that HBO is open to doing whatever executive producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss want, but that they haven’t discussed the potential for prequels yet. Both Benioff and Weiss have been adamant that the series should end after seven seasons, but extending the series to eight isn’t that much of a stretch for the dynamic duo. However, D&D would not have to be attached to a prequel, especially if the fatigue of the grueling

A perfect example of the potential success of a prequel season comes from 

, the acclaimed Starz series. During filming for the second season, the actor who originally portrayed Spartacus himself, Andy Whitfield, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, causing the series creator Steven DeKnight to alter his course and go with a prequel mini-series titled

in hopes that Whitfield would survive his battle with cancer.

So, if HBO decides to go with a prequel season or even multiple prequel seasons, which periods should the show cover? The options are limitless, and most book readers have an idea of what they would like to see. However, show-only fans do not really have a grasp on the rich history of

; a prequel would need to make sense to them as well. For instance, while showing what Old Valyria was like before the Doom that destroyed it would be amazing for book readers, show watchers would be lost, as their only exposure to Valyria was in Season 5, when Jorah and Tyrion sailed through the ruins.

With that in mind, let’s look at what, in my mind, is the perfect choice for a

prequel season, and speculate as to how it could be translated from the pages of George R.R. Martin’s books to the small screen.

 era…the war that placed Robert Baratheon on the Iron Throne. Rhaegar Targareyn, the actual heir to the Throne, ran away to Dorne with Lyanna Stark. The two secluded themselves at the Tower of Joy under the protection of a few members of the Kingsguard. Believing that his sister had been kidnapped by the crown prince, Brandon Stark (Eddard’s older brother) rode to King’s Landing and demanded that Rhaegar come out to face him. It went poorly.

The Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen, had already descended into madness, and after taking Brandon into custody, he demanded that Lord Rickard Stark (Eddard’s father and the Warden of the North) come to the capital to answer for his son’s crime. Once Lord Rickard arrived, Aerys burned him alive, while Brandon choked to death in a special contraption made just for the occasion, all while trying to reach a sword just inches from his fingertips.

Aerys then sent word to Jon Arryn that he should send the heads of his two wards, Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon, to King’s Landing. Jon refused and called his banners, as did Robert and Eddard, and thus began Robert’s Rebellion. There were 10 major battles in Robert’s Rebellion, which would be perfect for a 10-episode season of TV.

Battle of Gulltown: This is the battle that started it all. Targaryen loyalists blocked the armies of Robert Baratheon, now known as the usurper, from entering the port of Gulltown. This forced Eddard Stark to take a detour home to Winterfell, so that he could call the Northern lords to arms.

Battle of Summerhall: This is where the legend of Robert Baratheon began. Robert got word that three separate armies of Targaryen loyalists would be converging at Summerhall, where they would combine forces and march on Storm’s End, House Baratheon’s seat of power. Realizing that his only chance at survival would be to defeat each army individually, Robert quickly marched on Summerhall, where he defeated each army in three different battles on the same day.

Battle of Ashford: Randyll Tarly (father to Sam) defeated one of Robert’s forces in this battle. It was the only loss the resistance suffered during the rebellion, and it served to single Lord Tarly out as a brilliant military commander. (Incidentally, an older Randyll Tarly will probably be showing up on Season 6 of 

Battle of the Bells: This decisive battle is arguably the one that broke the morale of the Targaryen loyalists. Eddard Stark had called his banners, and the North marched to Riverrun, where Lord Hoster Tully joined the rebellion. This is where Ned married Catelyn, who had previously been betrothed to Ned’s older brother Brandon. The latter’s death by strangulation ended that engagement.

Meanwhile, a wounded Robert hid in the town of Stony Sept. Aerys’ new Hand of the King, Jon Connington, marched on Stony Sept and took the town by force. Lord Connington then began to search for Robert, going house to house. The town’s Septon, realizing that a battle was coming, began to ring the sept’s bells to warn the citizens to stay in their houses. The combined forces of House Stark and House Tully descended on Stony Sept, and defeated Lord Connington’s forces after a fierce battle.

Battle of the Trident: Prince Rhaegar emerged from the Tower of Joy without his Kingsguard, and led the Targaryen host to the Trident where he eventually met Robert in single combat. It was said that Robert fought like a demon in that battle, and Rhaegar was killed when Robert brought his famous warhammer down to crush the prince’s chest.

Battle at the Mander: House Greyjoy had stayed neutral during the rebellion, but once it became obvious that the Targaryens would lose, Lord Quellon Greyjoy led 50 ships full of Ironborn in an attack on the Reach. However, once they arrived at the Mander River, they were met by forces from the Shield Islands, where Lord Quellon was slain. Balon, his son (and Theon’s father), led the remaining Ironborn back to the Iron Islands.

Sack of King’s Landing: Like the Ironborn, Lord Tywin Lannister had remained neutral during the war until it became clear that Robert would emerge triumphant. Tywin, who had previously served as the Hand of the King under Aerys, marched the Lannister army to King’s Landing. Grand Maester Pycell convinced Aerys that Tywin was there to defend the city, and Aerys opened the gates. Lord Tywin proceeded to viciously sack the city. He sent his men to scale the Red Keep, where they raped and murdered Rhaegar’s wife and children. Aerys, realizing the end was near, tried to implement his plan to burn King’s Landing and all its people with wildfire, but was stopped by Jaime Lannister, who ran him through. This ended the reign of the Targaryen kings, and earned Jaime the title of Kingslayer. 

Siege of Storm’s End: Stannis Baratheon was ordered to hold Storm’s End by his brother Robert. Ever faithful to his duty, Stannis dug in and began to wait out the siege brought on by Lord Mace Tyrell and Lord Paxter Redwyne. Stannis and his men were surrounded by land and sea by the Tyrell and Redwyne armies. For almost a year, Stannis held Storm’s End, despite having eaten all the rats, cats, dogs, and horses left in the castle. Eventually, Davos Seaworth smuggled in a boatload of onions and salted fish, and soon after, Eddard Stark brought his army to bear on Lords Tyrell and Redwyne, who quickly dipped their banners and bent the knee.

Battle at the Tower of Joy: This is where the most popular theory in

began. Having lifted the siege at Storm’s End, Eddard Stark and six of his companions (including Howland Reed, father to Meera and Jojen) rode to Dorne to find his sister Lyanna. Once there, they met the remaining Targaryen Kingsguard:

Gerold Hightower, the Lord Commander of Aerys’ Kingsguard

We know very little of the battle at the Tower of Joy, as we only get to see what happened through Eddard’s fevered dreams.

“When King’s Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with a golden sword, and I wondered where you were.”

“Far away,” Ser Gerold said, “or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne, and our false brother would burn in seven hells.”

“I came down on Storm’s End to lift the siege,” Ned told them, and the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne dipped their banners, and all their knights bent the knee to pledge us fealty. I was certain you would be among them.”

“Our knees do not bend easily,” said Ser Arthur Dayne.

“Ser Willem Darry is fled to Dragonstone, with your queen and Prince Viserys. I thought you might have sailed with him.”

“Ser Willem is a good man and true,” said Ser Oswell.

“But not of the Kingsguard,” Ser Gerold pointed out. “The Kingsguard does not flee.”

“Then or now,” said Ser Arthur. He donned his helm.

Ned’s wraiths moved up beside him, with shadow swords in hand. They were seven against three. 

“And now it begins,” said Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. He unsheathed Dawn and held it with both hands. The blade was pale as milkglass, alive with light.

“No,” Ned said with sadness in his voice. “Now it ends.”

After the battle, only Ned and Howland remained alive, and when he heard his sister scream his name, Eddard ran into the tower, where he found Lyanna in a bed of blood. Her last words to him were, “

.” Ned and Howland Reed pulled down the tower and used the stone as cairns for the fallen Kingsguard. He then rode to House Dayne to return Dawn, their ancestral sword. Ned took his sister’s bones back to Winterfell, and entombed them in the crypts below the castle. He also returned home with a baby…but that’s for another article.

Assault on Dragonstone: This is the final confrontation of the War of the Usurper. After the Targaryen defeat on the Trident, Aerys sent his pregnant wife, Queen Rhaella, and son Viserys to Dragonstone, the Targaryen seat of power. There, Rhaella crowned her son as the new King of Westeros, but it was a hollow gesture. Stannis had begun to construct a fleet of warships so that he could lay siege to Dragonstone. Nine months after their arrival, Rhaella died giving birth to a daughter, Daenerys, during a storm that destroyed the Targaryen fleet, which was anchored in the bay. 

After losing their queen and seeing their ships destroyed, the remaining Targaryen loyalists at Dragonstone were prepared to sell Viserys and Daenerys to Robert. However, one man remained loyal, Ser Willem Darry, and he took the children and sailed for Braavos, escaping Robert’s wrath.

As you can see, there is more than enough material to create a prequel season. If they do it right, the complete story of Robert’s Rebellion could make for thrilling TV.

Next: What Will Game of Thrones do with an extra season (or two)?

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I’d give my right hand to see Jaime kill the Mad King.

I think that would be a great series, but they couldn’t show all those battles in a single season, it would be too damn expensive and a battle every episode would be mind numbingly repetitive. I think there are about 3 seasons worth of content there with 1-2 episodes each season featuring a major set-piece battle.

I agree that a battle per episode might be a bit much. I’m sure many could be trimmed or combined. They could approach some of the battles the way season 1 did, just showing the aftermath.

However as others have mentioned, I can’t see prequels until the final arcs of ASOIAF are complete. Otherwise all the mystery and hidden clues from Robert’s Rebellion would spoil many aspects of GoT.

Other options… Dunk and Egg stuff: could connect to the current series with Maester Aemon and Mr. 3-eyed Crow.

War of Conquest (i.e. the Targaryen invasion of Westeros): Dragons!

Young Eddard Stark: Eddie Redmayne (?Maybe? Who looks like a young Sean Bean?)

Young Robert Baratheon: Joe Dempsie (YOU KNOW IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!)

Randyll Tarly: I’m stuck on this one. He needs to be a great warrior, but also an asshole.

Jon Connington: Allen Leech? I’m a little stuck here too.

Young Balon Greyjoy: Alfie Allen (Because.)

Howland Reed: Martin Freeman? (Because I cast Cumberbatch. and they come as a set.)

Arthur Dayne: Aidan Turner (Poldark Peeps will understand)

I like where your head is at but a large production like this can’t afford that many well known actors. Just look at the GoT cast, were any of them A list celebrities before GoT (not sure if any of them are now)? Sean Bean was probably the most famous and outside of Lord of the Rings he was pretty obscure before Game of Thrones. I mean, name another Sean Bean film…

Goldeneye and the Sharpe movie immediately come to mind….

You’re obviously very young. Hopefully, if they do Robert’s Rebellion, they’d cast the same way they did in Game of Thrones. Older, experienced actors make for better movies and television because they are professional actors, not stars. Most of the GOT actors are either very seasoned actors or brand new names. There is a reason why only a few films here and there have casts like the one you are proposing. Firstly, these are young actors who only have a few films under their belts. They are also in their 20’s and are new, young actors so they ask for a great deal of money. They’re too big of a gamble, not to mention that people don’t necessarily watch GOT for certain actors. Except maybe now with Kit Harrington…He is the breakout star of the series. Emilia Clarke is too. They are they only unknowns to have done that. Either way, as we in the film industry know, it takes 20 years to become an actor. Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Lena Heady, Peter Dinklage, Natalie Dormer, Charles Dance, Liam Cunningham, Stephen Dillane, – these are actors who have been around forever & have resumes a mile long. They didn’t just get there by chance. For actors, this is the most exciting, game changing show of all time. It’s the first big show to cast no-name actors in large roles, as well as actors from all over the world, it is unprecedented. Never would HBO put together a cast like that. It’s not Twilight, thank the gods, It’s Game of Thrones motha fucka!

Much as I love Bill Nighy, he’s too old to play Aerys, who was only 40 when he died.

Well, Aerys may have only been 40, but he looked much, much older thN his age. He had become so paranoid and stressed which really did damage to his looks. He was honestly like dying plant.

No disrespect, but I would hate to see Sam Clafin ruin another role.

I’d love to see Eddie Redmayne, Bill Nighy or Aidan Turner (MEOW!) in any Role! Russell Tovey is great as well.

Eddie Redmayne might be a good Jon Connington, being a Ginger and all. I think he has the quiet intensity to pull it off.

Sam Heughan from Outlander might be a very good Young Ned, or Richard Madden! Heaven Knows Sam tried out for GoT 7 times! He deserves a shot!

I love Daniel Radcliff and would love to see him break his Harry Potter image, but I don’t think he could pull off “The White Bull” Gerold Hightower.

Eve Myles is 37, a bit old for Catelyn during RR. Alice Englert might be a good choice.

NO to Hugo…he will always be Agent Smith to me…

even when he was playing Elrond I only saw Smith.

I really want to see Daniel Radcliffe get the chance to break out of the Harry Potter stereotype, that’s why I put him there. As for Cumberbatch, you just know HBO peeps would be pushing to have him cast. And of all the actors in the right age group, I think his Charles Dance impression would be the best.

The Old Bull being played by an actor who barely touches five feet and would weight less than his armor? No way. The Old Bull was strong and powerful, even the kingslayer admitted he was a stronger swordsman (and old). If you really need Harry Potter then Howland Reed is the physical and age appropriate character. Tom Hardy would be a short Robert but has proven he can show his physicality. Stannis is lean and the younger brother so you’d need another if you were intent on Gendry.

This would be a great successor to GOT…I would think at least three or four seasons with the current format!

The only problem is that so many already know the outcome.

I wonder if there might be another story where the details aren;t so well known?

a57se…..TROLL….ALERT….BEEP…….BEEP……TROLL….ALERT….BEEP…..BEEP…..a57se USES THE WORD RETARDED FREELY IN NO REGARD OF THE MEANING OF THE WORD…BEEP…BEEP……..LOOK UP TROLLING DEFINITION……BEEP…BEEP……TROLL DEFINITION….BEEP….BEEP…. HE INSULTS YOUR COMMENTS BECAUSE HE IS A TROLL…….BEEP….BEEP……HE’S TROLLING YOUR COMMENTS RIGHT NOW SO BEWARE…..BEEP….BEEP……a57se USES THE WORD RETARDED FREELY IN NO REGARD OF THE MEANING OF THE WORD….BEEP BEEP……BEWARE OF HIS INSULTS…..SOMETIMES TROLLS SLITHER IN THEIR SARCASM WHILE YOU’RE NOT THERE……BEEP BEEP…..TROLL DEFINITION ON GOOGLE: BEING A PRICK ON THE INTERNET BLOGS MESSAGE BOARDS BECAUSE YOU CAN. TYPICALLY UNLEASHING ONE OR MORE CYNICAL OR SARCASTIC REMARKS ON AN INNOCENT BY-STANDER BECAUSE IT’S THE INTERNET AND, HEY YOU CAN………..TROLL ALERT…………AND I’M NOT LAUGHING…………

Wow. Cynthia… settle down for heavens sake.

I didn’t see a remark from you telling him retarded was unacceptable???.. but I need to settle down. Whyyyyy!!!! a57se call my comments retarded!! Twice!!! Do you know the word retarded is also known in some circles degrading as the N WORD I kid you not. Why say any comment if you had to resort to saying its retarded?? Let me ask you this, if you’re on a blog, and you decide you will humiliate, degrade, or say anything you want with no responsibilities of who you are, which is your voice,,, then it works both ways right??? a57se, has to be prepared for my reaction as well??? He’s a faceless voice, he decided to say those comments directed at me,, then has to accept or not except my response to those comments. Look at the end of the day this blog is use by some who just don’t care what they say because their faceless. People won’t change,, that’s fine, I’m not here to change the ignorant human beings in the world. But if you insult me, on the internet, or in person. Then you have to live with my response to that, period….a57se is a big boy, he’ll be back on here tomorrow trolling making light of my remarks no doubt. But in response to those remarks, he has to accept that as well.. So TROLL ALERTS CONTINUE UNTIL HE APOLOGIZES

I didn’t see the comment where he used the term “retarded.” Yes I get that is a very offensive term to many and that there are some very rude people on this site from time to time.

But leaving a long post in all caps that is pointing out what a Jackass someone is, can be really annoying!

Can’t we all just get along. Don’t feed the Trolls, it just encourages them to keep badgering everyone!

I don’t understand how this is still being discussed. GRRM has said

times that there will be no RR prequel. Why? Because there are secrets and flashbacks that need to be revealed through ASOIAF alone. After that, he said there wouldn’t be any story left to tell in RR.

That’s nice but the guy won’t live forever and then someone will buy the rights to the ASOIAF property and the prequels/sequels will rain down upon us…there is money to be made after all.

This writeup is missing the actual start. If they do this, and I’d rather see it as a feature film, it starts with the tourney at harrenhal, the year of the false Spring. That is your opening, first episode.

I like the series idea but you could not fit it in 10 episodes. A film would not allow you to get to know the characters. Lord of the Rings only works because we only get to know the fellowship and they spend most of their time together. This story would be sprawling.

this is awesome. best write-up on this site for quite some time.

How great would it be to watch this and know that Ned Stark survives!

That seems more like a weak point of the series…shocking deaths has sort of become what GoT is known for. Even people who only watch GoT and have never read a book would know who survives Robert’s Rebellion.

There are plenty of movies based on books and everybody knows the outcome ! No sure why it’s such an issue. Everybody knew the LOTR story, knew that Frodo would survive, Gandalf would come back, etc …yet, the movies were a huge success. So what if we know the outcome, the journey could be just as interesting ! I, for one, would love to see a 2 season prequel of GOT that depicts Robert’s rebellion !

See also, The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Vampire Chronicles… All of these book series had strong fan bases who knew the outcomes of the books… but still lined up at the Theater to see the screen adaptations.

I’d like to see Luke Evans as Rhaegar. You’d need stars to play Rhaegar, Lyanna and Aerys. Everyone else could be good/ young actors. There’s no way the prequel can be done before ASOIAF is done but that gives plenty of preparation time.

I agree. The prequel needs to be after ASOIAF concludes and they should also properly cast Ned and Robert ..the others do not need to be stars. In fact, Lyanna probably doesn’t need to be a star either. What else does she do besides being kidnapped by

A prequel by definition begins after the main story ends, all of you are worried they’ll tell it at the same time. Don’t worry. Also, this talk of stars is such a bummer. Who cares? But here’s one thing, Lyanna Stark does a great deal more than get kidnapped…she is the mother of Jon Snow. She is the Helen of Troy of this story. The battle is over her.

Why not just do a prequel series about the reign of Aerys II, or of his life starting at with the Summerhall fire. That could be stretched out and include the rebellion.

yes please, please yes, please, please, please…. My dream the whole time was for a Robert’s Rebellion season (if not 2 seasons +) before the final season.

or even split season 8, and alternate with 16-20 Rebellion episodes.

Battle after battle after battle would be tiresome. Can’t hang a whole season on that. I’d a hundred times rather see the Tales of Dunk and Egg enacted: more actual story, more character development.

As for casting … Sam Riley for Young Robert Baratheon?

An interesting article. In my personal view, it would be better if this sort of thing isn’t done. Part of me would love to see Robert’s Rebellion put to the screen in full, but I’ve always thought there was a good reason George only told the readers about these events in snippets. Sometimes the accounts are even contradictory. Robert’s Rebellion to me is a backstory that in large parts needs to be left to the imagination of the viewer. I wouldn’t mind a few flashbacks, but there’s no real need for them to be honest. And it’s always preferable to omit needless things.

I would without a doubt watch a Robert’s Rebellion series and buy all the subsequent blu-ray releases.

Palina on Robert’s Rebellion: A Case for the Game of Thrones Prequel Season

The Blue Bard on Robert’s Rebellion: A Case for the Game of Thrones Prequel Season

How many children did Cersei really have? ***Current on TV show to read***