The fantasy drama TV series Game of Thrones is a global hit, but it wouldn’t have got that far if it wasn’t for HBO’s faith and nurturing from an early stage, star Charles Dance has insisted.
Speaking to The Guardian, Dance – who plays Tywin Lannister, the eldest son of Tytos Lannister, in the series – reflected: “The pilot they made was not that successful but HBO kind of nurtured it, thought there was mileage in this, and embarked on the first series.”
He added: “If that had been the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation], they’d have pulled the plug on it immediately”. The BBC were, at one point, going to be involved in the show’s co-production, he further recalled being told; however, he expressed relief that HBO, the network that actually got involved alongside UK partner Sky Atlantic, “knows how to spend money”.
The seventh, penultimate season of Game of Thrones is set to air on HBO next summer. Apple TV owners will be able to watch it through the HBO NOW app on their set-top boxes.
