Westeros is heading to the big screen, and as someone who was obsessed with Game of Thrones from day one, I really don’t know how I feel about this one.
Warner Bros. has set Game of Thrones: Aegon’s Conquest for a theatrical release on June 1, 2029, taking us around 300 years before Game of Thrones and back to the story of Aegon Targaryen.
And yes, I’m excited. Of course I am.
I was one of those people who was completely sucked into Game of Thrones. Every season, every character, every ridiculous theory about what was going to happen next. The thing I loved was that you never really knew what to expect. Just when you thought you knew where the story was going, the writers would throw a massive spanner in the works and suddenly everything changed.
Then we got to that final episode.
I could see why they did it. I understood what they were trying to do, but that doesn’t mean I agreed with it. I came away disappointed and, if I’m being fair, maybe I need to go back and watch the whole thing again now the dust has settled.
I had a similar problem with Vikings. Once Ragnar died (sorry if I’ve just spoiled that, although you’ve had a few years), I didn’t want to carry on. Everyone kept telling me it was still brilliant, but to me Ragnar was Vikings.
And I think that’s what worries me slightly about returning to the world of Game of Thrones.
Can Westeros Pull Me Back In?
For me, it’s the characters that drag you down the rabbit hole.
You can have the biggest battles, incredible locations and dragons flying around burning everything in sight, but unless there’s a character whose story you genuinely want to follow, it’s difficult to become completely invested.
Obviously the actor has to deliver too, and Game of Thrones had some incredible performances, but those characters were what made the world feel alive.
Daenerys is probably the perfect example. People loved her because we’d followed her through the pain, suffering and everything that had been thrown at her. We watched her turn all of that into inner power and strength, and Emilia Clarke was brilliant at bringing that journey to life.
Which is probably why the ending left such a bad taste for me.
I’ve not actually watched House of the Dragon or A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms yet either. Maybe that’s criminal for somebody who loved Game of Thrones as much as I did, but I’ve just never felt that pull to go back.
Maybe it’s time I rip the plaster off, watch them and see if I can fall in love with Westeros again before 2029.
So, Who Is Aegon the Conqueror?
If there’s one story capable of dragging me back, they’ve certainly picked a big one.
Aegon’s Conquest takes us back to Aegon Targaryen, the man who conquered most of Westeros alongside his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys. Aegon rode Balerion the Black Dread, with Visenya riding Vhagar and Rhaenys riding Meraxes.
Basically, three Targaryens and three enormous dragons arriving in Westeros and asking everyone to kneel.
I’m sure that went peacefully.
This is also the story that ultimately gives us the Iron Throne. The swords of Aegon’s defeated enemies were used to create it, meaning after years of watching people fight, betray and murder each other for that bloody chair, we’re finally going back to see how it all started.
And Balerion on a cinema screen?
Yeah… they’ve got me there.
We’ve heard the stories and seen the enormous skull, but actually seeing Balerion the Black Dread alive and at the height of his power could be incredible on the big screen.
A Game of Thrones Movie Feels Different
I’m also really happy they’re taking this one to cinemas rather than making it another TV series.
Game of Thrones was obviously built for television and became one of the biggest shows in the world doing it, but Aegon’s story feels like it could work as a proper cinema event. Huge battles, castles, armies and three dragons probably aren’t going to look too bad on an IMAX screen.
There’s still one massive piece missing though, the cast.
We don’t know yet who will be playing Aegon, Visenya and Rhaenys, and for me that’s going to be far more important than how good the dragons look.
Give me characters I care about. Give me somebody whose journey I want to follow and somebody I’m gutted to lose when Game of Thrones inevitably does what Game of Thrones does.
That’s what will get me invested again.
So yeah, despite everything, I’m excited to return to Westeros. I’m happy it’s finally making the jump to the big screen and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that somewhere along the way there might even be room for a few familiar faces.
2029 is a long way off though, which gives me plenty of time to finally watch House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
I suppose I can’t keep avoiding them forever 🙂
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