George R.R. Martin reveals Game of Thrones prequel won’t have Targaryens (or dragons)

George R.R. Martin reveals a few new details about the Game of Thrones prequel including what time period the series will be set in.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ve heard that the show’s prequel series is supposed to be set about 10,000 years before the original book series.

But, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, George R.R. Martin is setting the record straight about a few of the details. In the interview, he explains The Long Night prequel will be set 5,000 years before, not 10,000 years — still setting the scene long before House Targaryen existed and definitely before they had dragons.

Martin shared the following regarding the timeline and setting of the new prequel:

"Westeros is a very different place. There’s no King’s Landing. There’s no Iron Throne. There are no Targaryens — Valyria has hardly begun to rise yet with its dragons and the great empire that it built. We’re dealing with a different and older world and hopefully that will be part of the fun of the series."

If fans are hoping to see dragons in this series, they might not be there. Westoros.org reveals that dragons came into the picture after The Long Night when “the peaceful sheep-herding folk of the Valyrian peninsula find dragons pairing in the Fourteen Flames, an immense chain of volcanoes extending across the neck of the peninsula.”

But dragon lovers, don’t be so disappointed as you will get to see those flying beasts again in the final season of Game of Thrones. Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion are still around, even if Viserion is a zombie ice dragon now. As for The Long Night, it may be wise for the prequel to not come off so similar to Game of Thrones. Dragons have long been associated with the show, and perhaps the prequel will compensate by featuring far more ancient and fantastic creatures.

The prequel is set to star Naomi Watts and is about the “world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East, to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.”

What are your thoughts so far on this prequel? Are you excited for it or not so much? Share what you think with us in the comments!