‘How could I be 13 years late?’: George R.R. Martin doesn’t know when he’ll finish The Winds of Winter

George R.R. Martin has been working on the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire since 1996 and is yet to complete the final two volumes. The Winds of Winter, the anticipated next installment, has been in the works for more than ten years. Amidst significant pressure from fans for its release, the author recently provided an update on his progress. However, it does not look hopeful.

Quick read:

• George R.R. Martin isn’t sure about The Winds of Winter release.
• Martin is against studios making changes to adaptations.
• Martin honored Howard Waldrop by adapting 3 of his written works.

George R.R. Martin acknowledged he’s late on The Winds of Winter

It has been a really long time since the last ASOIAF book was released, and a lot of fans have already lost hope. It even surprises George R.R. Martin that it has taken him such a long time, as he spoke to THR, “Unfortunately, I am 13 years late. Every time I say that, I’m [like], ‘How could I be 13 years late?’ I don’t know, it happens a day at a time.”

The Winds of Winter cover

However, he assures that the book is still his priority, “But that’s still a priority. A lot of people are already writing obituaries for me. [They’re saying] ‘Oh, he’ll never be finished.’ Maybe they’re right. I don’t know. I’m alive right now! I seem pretty vital!” He added that retiring is not on his to-do-list, citing — he’s “not a golfer.”

George R.R. Martin criticizes studios making changes in source material

Martin got into a tussle with HBO not too long ago, when he posted everything that was wrong with House of the Dragon in a now deleted post. While addressing similar issues with changes being made in source material, he stated, “Maybe I’m one of the few people in Hollywood who still thinks that when you adapt a work of art, a novel, a short story, you should do a faithful adaptation. [It] annoys me too much because they change things, and I don’t think they generally improve them.”

George R.R. Martin on breaking the cardinal rule of Hollywood for making Howard Waldrop’s films

Martin lost his dear friend Howard Waldrop early in 2024, and he has been mourning his loss since. He has converted three of his works into short films, some of them even winning awards. Martin said, “The cardinal rule of Hollywood is: never use your own money. I broke that. I [thought], ‘God damn it, I’m gonna use my own money. So we put these films into production — three of them are now finished. Two more are in post-production.”

Read Next: “Your Viserys is better than my Viserys,” George R. R. Martin tells actor Paddy Considine from House of the Dragon

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