14-year-old comment on unaired Game of Thrones pilot cast video predicted just three seasons

A fan recently shared a screenshot of a 14-year-old comment on a Game of Thrones video about the pilot episode. This video, posted before the show aired, shared information about the actors and the characters they would play in the upcoming show.

When Game of Thrones first announced its pilot episode, fans were eager but still determining whether the show would last beyond three or four seasons. The pilot was so bad that it had to be re-shot, and several cast members were replaced before the show officially launched. Despite these early challenges, Game of Thrones became one of the most successful TV series ever. Read on to learn more.

Read More: Game of Thrones cast and crew spill the beans on the absolutely bonkers original pilot

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09/06/2024 10:52 pm GMT

14 years ago, people didn’t think Game of Thrones would survive very long

In the early days, fans were still determining if Game of Thrones would last long. A screenshot from a YouTube comment on the pilot episode video captures this sentiment well.

Credits: Slosher52 via YouTube

The comment reflects doubts about the show’s longevity, with fans predicting it might only last three or four seasons. This uncertainty was standard among early viewers, who couldn’t have predicted the massive success and cultural impact the series would eventually have.

HBO’s original Game of Thrones pilot was so bad it was almost fully reshot

The original pilot episode of Game of Thrones was so bad that it was almost scrapped entirely. According to the show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, they made every possible mistake in that pilot. This is what Weiss had to say about it:

“Watching them watch that original pilot was one of the most painful experiences of my life. As soon as it finished, Craig said, ‘You guys have a massive problem.’”

Since Game of Thrones Season 1 premiered, audiences have fallen in love with the dark and twisted story George R.R. Martin wrote. However, the original pilot was so bad that the cast had to be changed and almost 90% of the pilot was re-shot. The pilot was first shot in 2009 and then entirely re-shot and released in 2011.

The cast change for Game of Thrones, and George R. R. Martin’s cameo appearance

Here's another peek at the past, and the original pilot for GoT. We shot the wedding of Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo in Morocco.   Ian McNeice played Illyrio Mopatis, and I played one of the wedding guests, presumably another magister. #TBT https://t.co/2BiGflKIIO pic.twitter.com/ItkUw75uvV

— George RR Martin (@GRRMspeaking) October 29, 2020

Several actors from the original pilot were replaced when the episode was re-shot. For example, Tamzin Merchant originally played Daenerys Targaryen before Emilia Clarke took over. Additionally, Jennifer Ehle was cast as Catelyn Stark but was later replaced by Michelle Fairley. Interestingly, George R.R. Martin made a cameo appearance in the original pilot. He wrote about it later:

“I will never forget being invited to the premiere of the first season. I went in just thinking (skeptically), ‘Well, I guess we’ll just see how this goes.’ I sat there and this show unfolds and I am stunned. Stunned. And I very specifically remember walking out and I said to [Weiss and Benioff], ‘That is the biggest rescue in Hollywood history.’ Because it wasn’t just that they had saved something bad and turned it really good. You had saved a complete piece of s**t and turned it into something brilliant. That never happens!”

Read More: Liam Cunningham (Davos) defends Game of Thrones ending

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