GRR Martin's Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire)

[Vampyr]

Since some of the books are missing major characters, I wonder if they'll just take the next 4 available and turn them into 5 - 6 seasons worth of episodes, and move things that were happening concurrently with the missing characters up into episodes alongside stuff that was actually happening in the book?

I don't see any other way they could do it that would make sense.

[Professor S]

Before anyone starts planning out 5 or 6 seasons of Game of Thrones, keep in mind very few HBO series make it that long. Even Deadwood, one of the most beloved HBO series, was cancelled unceremoniously due to cost concerns. I imagine Game of Thrones would be almost as expensive to film due to the setting (same for Boardwalk Empire).

I hope to get 4 seasons out of them, followed by a movie or two to finish the story.