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Tag: casey-bloys

‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel: HBO Still Has ‘No Timeline’

Helen Sloan/HBO

“Game of Thrones” is over, but don’t expect HBO to rush out a prequel series.

The premium network still hasn’t set a release date for the project starring Naomi Watts. During a recent TCA event, HBO President of Programming Casey Bloys told Deadline there’s “no timeline yet.” He added that he hasn’t even seen a cut.

“I’m excited but no timeline yet,” the exec said.

The project got a pilot order in June 2018 and has since put together a strong cast. It began filming earlier this year, in June in Ireland. While many plot details remain under wraps, we do know that the story is set thousands of years ahead of “Game of Thrones.” Bloys told Deadline that fans can expect to see “some references” to the hit show but not “direct references.” That’s similar to comments from George R.R. Martin during an EW interview late last year highlighting that the prequel deals with “a different and older world.”

It’s still early, so don’t expect your curiosity to be sated anytime soon. We’ll just have to keep waiting for HBO to decide whether or not to pick up the series and, if so, when to release it.

[via: Deadline]

July 25, 2019
HBO Open to ‘Sopranos’ Reboot After ‘The Many Saints of Newark’

HBO

It seems like everything gets rebooted these days, and “The Sopranos” might not be an exception.

With a prequel movie slated to debut in 2020, HBO’s president of programming, Casey Bloys, spoke at a recent TCA event about whether or not the premium network intends to make a prequel series after the film debuts. The exec shared that there are no plans or discussions for such a reboot at present but didn’t rule anything out for the future, per Deadline.

“I keep saying ‘never say never,’” Bloys told the publication.

The movie will take place in the 1960s and show a younger version of Tony Soprano, as well as other familiar characters. It comes from “The Sopranos” creator David Chase, who wrote the prequel’s screenplay with Lawrence Konner. Additionally, Michael Gandolfini will star as Tony, taking up the baton from his late father, James Gandolfini.

Bloys had praise for Michael and called him “a really good actor.” Still, HBO seems to be taking this one step at a time. For now, “there is nothing on the table at the moment,” but Bloys says he will “stay open.”

“The Sopranos” prequel movie, “The Many Saints of Newark,” will open Sept. 25, 2020.

[via: Deadline]

July 25, 2019
HBO President Responds to ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 Criticism: ‘You Can’t Please Everybody’

Macall B. Polay/HBO

Critics of “Game of Thrones” Season 8 shouldn’t expect to find much sympathy from HBO President Casey Bloys. The exec responded to criticism during a recent Variety interview, and he said to “file this under you can’t please everybody.”

From a viewership standpoint, the final season was a wild success. The “Game of Thrones” series finale set an HBO ratings record. However, many of those fans weren’t happy with how the final season played out. A petition calling for a total remake of Season 8 has garnered nearly 1.5 million signatures at the the time of this writing. And yet, Bloys made it clear that he’s not worried about the divided response.

“I think to a certain extent it was expected that for a show this big, there’s no way you’re going to please everybody,” he told Variety. “It’s roughly split with some people loving it and some people disliking it. … You’re never going to make everybody happy, nor should that be the goal.”

Bloys commended “Game of Thrones” showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, saying that they “did a great job.” He also defended their decision to only include six episodes in Season 8, noting that they had a “very, very specific plan in their head for a long time.”

The HBO head isn’t the only one to defend Season 8. Multiple “Game of Thrones” stars have spoken out as well, including Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), who called the petition “disrespectful” and also chocked people’s disappointment up to the show not ending how they wanted it to. We don’t think it’s fair to discount all fan criticism, but the reaction from people involved with the show is understandable, too. They put a lot of hard work into the season, and we can’t imagine it feels good to hear it wasn’t good enough.

With the network and actors behind “Game of Thrones” Season 8, the chances of a remake seem to be all but zero. Fans, like the people of the Six Kingdoms, will just have to live with the decisions made by those in power.

[via: Variety]

May 22, 2019
HBO Boss Defends ‘Westworld’ Season 2: ‘It’s Not for Casual Viewers’

HBO

While “Westworld” Season 1 was roundly praised, “Westworld” Season 2 was … well, not.

There were widely praised standalone episodes, but the convoluted storylines, multiple timelines, and often frustrating character decisions confused or just bored many vocal viewers. (Stars Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood have talked about being confused by Season 2 as well.)

Granted, there’s no one prevailing opinion about anything. Many fans loved “Westworld” Season 2, appreciated the continued intellectual complexity, and felt they followed along just fine, thank you very much.

After fresh comments from HBO boss Casey Bloys, “Westworld” fans are now re-debating Season 2 and what it means to be a “casual viewer” of the show.

Bloys talked up all of HBO’s projects at the TCAs, and he was asked about the viewer and critical backlash to Season 2. Would Season 3 take that into account?

Here’s Bloys’ response (via Deadline):

“I wouldn’t agree that the backlash was widespread. The people who love it really love it, even the people who dislike it feel the need to discuss it and talk about it and let you know they dislike it and debate. And for a show to arouse that kind of feeling, that’s what we want.”

HBO gave critics the first five episodes in advance, so they could watch closely and repeatedly to have recaps available right after the Sunday night airings. Bloys referenced those critic reviews as he continued:

“Most of the reviews felt that the story had been clarified. It’s not for casual viewers, it requires your attention. [Showrunners] Jonah [Nolan] and Lisa [Joy] like to challenge their viewers and many feel rewarded by that. It’s a unique show and that’s what we’re looking for.”

Many fans were quick to take issue with the idea of being called “casual viewers” if they didn’t understand or appreciate the direction of Season 2. Being called a “casual” fan of something is understood to be a slight; “Westworld” viewers already knew going in to Season 2 that it was a show that required close attention, and that was part of the appeal.

Other fans applauded Bloys’ defense because they appreciate the high bar “Westworld” sets for viewers. It rewards close and repeat viewing, and the last thing anyone wants for Season 3 is to see the show “watered down” for fans who can’t keep up.

So the debate continues — is it the fault of the show or the viewer if a season doesn’t meet individual expectations?

The 2018 Emmys gave “Westworld” 21 nominations for Season 2. “Westworld” Season 3 has yet to announce its premiere date.

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July 26, 2018
‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoffs Won’t Show Up Until ‘At Least’ 2020

Two or three more winters may come before a “Game of Thrones” prequel premieres on HBO. It is known.

“Game of Thrones” Season 8, the final season, is now filming and will keep filming into the summer. It was recently confirmed by HBO that the six episodes won’t premiere until 2019. Keeping that date in mind, it means none of the planned prequel spinoffs will arrive until at least 2020.

As you probably remember, there are five prequel series in the writing stage of development. Those prequels will cover author George R.R. Martin’s stories set before “A Song of Ice and Fire,” the novel series upon which “Game of Thrones” is based. GRRM is working with all of the writers on what he prefers to call “successor shows” rather than spinoffs or even prequels.

HBO programming president Casey Bloys gave The Hollywood Reporter a spinoffs update during the recent Television Critics Association’s winter press tour:

Let’s start with the Game of Thrones prequels. What’s the latest?

There are five of them. If we do a pilot and series, nothing is going to air on HBO until at least a year after the final season. We’re not doing a final season and then, “Following it at 11 p.m. … .” I’ve seen some exciting material. We have really great writers working on these; it’s very exciting. But there’s no timetable. Not everybody is on the same schedule, so I’ve seen different versions of different things that are potentially exciting. But there’s no timetable about when a decision would be made about any of them.

Can you discuss any of the storylines that are being explored?

No!

In success, do you have an idea of just how many you’d do?

I’ll do anywhere from zero to five! (Laughs.) Though probably more likely one. But we’ll see.

Bloys further confirmed to TVLine that no existing GoT characters will be featured in the prequels, but there may be familiar bloodlines — meaning members of the great houses we’ve come to know.

The HBO boss did previously say that “Game of Thrones” is the priority, and they won’t do much of anything on the spinoff front until that series is done. So that’s why they don’t expect any one of the potential new series to show up on the network until “at least a year” after Season 8. It sucks for us, but … at least we can look forward to something once GoT withdrawal sets in.

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January 12, 2018
HBO: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 Episode Count Not Set Yet

Hold your khalasars! “Game of Thrones” Season 8 may not have just six episodes after all.

HBO is waiting for an official decree from “Game of Thrones” showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss before giving a green light to the eighth and final season. It’s a formality — there will be a Season 8 — but the network is leaving it up to D&D to decide exactly when the show ends. But whatever the final count — be it the six episodes we’ve heard over and over, or more to get us to “15 hours” or beyond — HBO is going to wish it were even more.

Here’s what HBO programming boss Casey Bloys told TVLine:

“The only thing we’re working out is how many episodes they want to do. […] They’re still figuring it out because I think they’re trying to get a shape of the season. They always do what they think [will yield] the best version of the show. It’s all about how many they’re comfortable [with]. But I’ll always take more.”

He added, with a laugh, “If you’re afraid we’re not going to do an eighth season, I assure you we’re going to.”

Bloys gave a similar quote to Entertainment Weekly:

“They’re still figuring out the shape of the season, what they want to do. I’ll take as many as they want to do. If they give me eight, I’ll want 10. But it’s really up to them. They’ll let me know.”

He also addressed the idea of a spinoff, telling EW a prequel makes most sense:

“A prequel feels like it has less pressure on it [than a spin-off]. [Author George R.R. Martin’s history of Westeros] gives you areas in which to say to a writer, ‘If you were going to do this, then go flesh it out,’ and we’ll see what comes back. But I don’t feel any pressure that we have to have something.”

They’ll do something, all right, we have just to wait to see what it is. But let’s get through the main show first.

GoT Season 7 is still filming, having gotten a late start to capture real winter locations. Liam Cunningham (Davos) and Iain Glen (Jorah) both mentioned Season 8 having six episodes, with Glen saying they had been told there were 15 hours left to the series as a whole, from Season 7’s seven episodes to whatever comes in Season 8. If it’s still six episodes, some of those hours would have to be supersized hours to get to 15 hours. Cunningham added that Season 8 would start filming in September. That may be the behind-the-scenes plan, but we have to wait for all the Ts to be crossed until HBO makes it official.

“Game of Thrones” Season 7 has no set premiere date yet, other than some time this summer.

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January 16, 2017
‘True Detective’ Season 3 Probably Won’t Happen

After the disappointing second season of HBO limited series “True Detective,” the premium cable outlet is unlikely to move forward on season three.

That’s the word from a new story in The Hollywood Reporter, previewing the reign of incoming HBO programming chief Casey Bloys. According to THR, sources from inside the network say that HBO is “more likely” to develop a new series from “True Detective” creator Nic Pizzolatto, rather than order an additional season of “TD.” Bloys, who’s taking over from retiring longtime chief Michael Lombardo, currently holds the fate of the series in his hands, per THR.

While that’s not a definitive cancellation, it certainly seems unlikely that more “True Detective” is on the horizon, based on the tepid reaction to (and critical drubbing of) the series’s second season. But despite the setbacks to the show following its buzzy, lauded first season (featuring an instantly iconic performance from Matthew McConaughey), HBO apparently believes in Pizzolatto’s creative vision, and has signed him to an exclusive development deal. Just what may come of that is unclear at this point, but the showrunner has to be happy that he still has an outlet for his work, if not the long-running success of “True Detective” that many fans and critics expected.

Stay tuned to see what’s next for Pizzolatto and HBO.

[via: The Hollywood Reporter]

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May 27, 2016