Brian Helgeland, the creative force behind the canceled “Game of Thrones” spinoff “10,000 Ships,” recently disclosed why the ambitious project didn’t move forward at HBO. Set a millennium before the renowned events of “Game of Thrones,” this series aimed to spotlight the legendary Queen Nymeria and her epic journey that parallels the biblical story of Moses.
“10,000 Ships” intended to bring to life the narrative of Princess Nymeria, leading her people in a massive exodus across a mythical sea, akin to Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Helgeland explained the core concept of the series in an interview with Inverse, saying, “It came out great, but I think they felt the period of my show was too far removed from the pillars of the original. That’s why it hasn’t been picked up yet, but nothing is ever dead. My script was based on Queen Nymeria and this little blurb about her that was in a Westeros encyclopedia.”
The proposed storyline would have depicted Nymeria and her followers’ nomadic life on water, establishing a floating city-state as they searched for a new homeland. “Essentially, it was the story of Moses but swapping him out for Nymeria. Her country gets ruined and her people are forced to live on the water, which is why the show was called 10,000 Ships. They end up having to leave and find a new home like the Israelites leaving Egypt. She’s leading all these people, trying to hold everyone together but things are always in danger of falling apart as they travel around a fictionalized version of the Mediterranean, looking for a new home to settle in,” Helgeland detailed.
Inspired by classical mythology and adventure tales such as Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad films and “The Odyssey,” Helgeland saw Nymeria as a figure akin to Odysseus, albeit leading not a small crew but an entire displaced nation. Despite a positive reception from George R.R. Martin and a script that excited some within HBO, the network hesitated, concerned about the timeline’s distance from the original “Game of Thrones” series.
Wrapping Up
While “10,000 Ships” may not currently be setting sail, the creative work behind this envisioned epic remains a testament to the enduring allure of the “Game of Thrones” universe and its capacity to inspire expansive storytelling. Brian Helgeland’s adaptation of Nymeria’s tale highlights the complexities of adapting rich, historical lore into modern television narratives. For further discussion on this and other related topics, visit HITPLAY.
Tags: Game of Thrones, 10,000 Ships, Brian Helgeland, HBO, George RR Martin, television production
