George RR Martin says Game of Thrones prequel series is on hold amid WGA strikes

George RR Martin has confirmed that the writer’s room is for his game of Thrones prequel series, The Hedge Knighthas closed in response to the writer’s strike.

The The Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike since Tuesday, May 2ndwith thousands of screenwriters dropping pens pending a deal for fair pay and other requirements with Hollywood production studios.

As a result, several programs including US late night showssitcom (Abbott Elementary School) and animations (Big mouth) shut down production until the end of the strike.

Also affected by strikes is the game of Thrones spin off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight.

Screenwriter and author of the Game of Thrones books George RR Martin shared a message of support for the protests Personal website on Sunday (May 7th).

“I’m not in LA so I can’t walk down a picket line like I did in 1988, but I want to go on record with my full, complete and unequivocal support of my guild,” he wrote.

Martin went on to say that he has endured several instances of strikes since he began writing for television in the late 1980s, but “never seen the Guild more united than it is now”.

Since writers are on strike, not all productions have been halted as they can continue filming if they have scripts available.

Martin continues, “On the condition, of course, that these scripts must be shot EXACTLY as they were shot at midnight on May 1st. No word may be changed, shortened, added, no scene may be altered. All of this requires writing… and from now until the end of the strike, writers will be on picket lines, not on the sets.

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“The writer’s room A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight has closed for good,” Martin continued, adding, “[Showrunner] Ira Parker and his incredible team of young talent are on the picket line.”

As for the second season of house of the dragonfilming is continuing as the scripts were fully finalized without the need for any further revisions “months ago, well before the strike began”.

“The authors have done their job; the rest is up to the directors, the cast and crew… and of course the dragons,” wrote Martin.

For a A full statement on the WGA strike can be found here The Independent‘s explainer here.