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- Benioff and Weiss Saw a Meteoric Rise with Game of Thrones
- GoT Fan Backlash May Have Led to Benioff and Weiss’ Ouster at Lucasfilm
- Unpacking What Went Wrong at Lucasfilm
- Confederate Was an Ill-Conceived Endeavor
As a seasoned storyteller myself, I can’t help but reflect on the tumultuous journey of Benioff and Weiss, the dynamic duo who once ruled the realm of television with an iron fist (or should I say, dragon claw). Their departure from Westeros left many fans heartbroken, much like a break-up that leaves you questioning if love ever truly existed.
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have soared to remarkable heights and plunged to surprising lows since their show, “Game of Thrones,” debuted in 2011. Prior to this, their careers as writers had somewhat mixed pasts, with Benioff having a stronger start – penning films like “The 25th Hour” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Weiss, on the other hand, boasted a more illustrious literary lineage after attending the esteemed Iowa Writer’s Workshop. However, none of his projects ever made it to the screen before “Game of Thrones.” It was their meeting in Dublin during the ’90s at Trinity College that would lead these two writers to their greatest triumphs. They first collaborated on adapting the novel “Ender’s Game” for the screen, but this project didn’t come to fruition. Yet, they proved to be a successful pair by focusing on adaptation projects instead.
For a number of years, Weiss held a deep affection for George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” novels and encouraged Benioff to read them as well. Eventually, Weiss contacted Martin’s literary representative, securing a meeting with the author. In this memorable 5-hour encounter, Martin posed the question, “Who is Jon Snow’s mother?” The duo provided the correct response, impressing Martin enough to grant them the opportunity to create the show. The series went on to become an unprecedented hit in Hollywood, elevating the pair to the status of top showrunners. However, as the series came to a close, tensions arose when the television writers ran out of Martin’s books for inspiration and crafted the final two seasons that left “Game of Thrones” enthusiasts up in arms.
In the aftermath of their show, “3 Body Problem,” which was renewed for a second season despite its high costs and causing Netflix executives to question its funding, along with the aborted Star Wars trilogy by Benioff and Weiss and a controversial HBO series titled “Confederate,” the creative pair’s prospects are starting to seem quite grim.
Benioff and Weiss Saw a Meteoric Rise with Game of Thrones
During the second and third seasons of Game of Thrones on HBO, Benioff and Weiss gained widespread acclaim, similar to how The Sopranos started modestly in terms of viewership. Although George R.R. Martin’s fanbase provided a foundation for the show, it truly took off in those seasons – particularly with the growth of Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke) narrative and the introduction of her dragon offspring. By Season 7, the series consistently attracted over 10 million viewers per episode.
The initial choice they made in their successful run as showrunners marked a significant misstep, as the final two seasons received criticism ranging from disapproval to severe rebuke. While it wasn’t entirely fair to the writers who had been outlining the story since Season 2, intending to span seven seasons, they were faced with the challenge of condensing complex character arcs for a television adaptation of extensive novels in a limited number of episodes. Despite these constraints, it couldn’t be ignored that the show experienced issues with rushed plot development and questionable decisions, such as the “The Long Night” episode, which was so dimly lit that it became challenging to understand.
GoT Fan Backlash May Have Led to Benioff and Weiss’ Ouster at Lucasfilm
Benioff and Weiss appreciated the freedom they had at HBO, using creative freedom to conclude the show as they saw fit. However, much like David Chase’s mysterious “blackout” ending on The Sopranos, a touch of network intervention can sometimes prevent writers from overreaching. Though Benioff and Weiss might have struggled to align with the passionate fans’ expectations, it was their prerogative – especially after providing entertainment for such a long time. As David Benioff stated about the criticism, “It would have been wonderful if everyone loved everything we did, but they didn’t.” One could spend an entire life searching for opinions that align with one’s own, rather than immersing themselves in public opinion. If Benioff and Weiss found the initial response challenging, their following years were even more difficult.
Prior to the end of production on the final season of Game of Thrones, Lucasfilm had already enlisted Benioff and Weiss to oversee their upcoming Star Wars trilogy. They reportedly finished drafting a script for the first film, titled The First Jedi, which centered around the creation of the Jedi order. However, things took a turn when Rian Johnson released his 2017 film called The Last Jedi, causing Weiss to comment that Johnson had effectively ruined the title they had chosen for their project. To add insult to injury, Lucasfilm was aware of the plummeting popularity of Benioff and Weiss among Game of Thrones fans, eventually opting to replace them with James Mangold.
Unpacking What Went Wrong at Lucasfilm
David Benioff tactfully expressed his thoughts on their dismissal from Lucasfilm earlier this year, stating that “[Lucasfilm] didn’t want to tell a First Jedi story. We had an unique concept in mind, but they decided against it. And we understand; it’s their company and their intellectual property. However, we weren’t the right fit for what they were seeking.” Contrary to Benioff’s statement, Lucasfilm actually wanted to delve into those Jedi origins, just not with Benioff and Weiss in charge. This became clear when it was announced that Mangold would direct the upcoming film, titled Dawn of the Jedi.
Despite criticism over their work on Game of Thrones and Star Wars, Benioff and Weiss were given a substantial budget by Netflix for the production of 3 Body Problem. The show garnered significant viewership and was based on strong source material, but it may have contributed to the belief that these writers are more focused on capitalizing off the works of renowned novelists rather than demonstrating their own creative prowess. Nonetheless, Benioff and Weiss saw an opportunity to return to familiar grounds, this time at HBO, where they began work on a new series titled Confederate.
Confederate Was an Ill-Conceived Endeavor
For several years, Benioff and Weiss had been conceptualizing the idea for “Confederate” as a movie. Later, they started developing it at HBO. This project aimed to depict an America where the Confederacy had won the Civil War. However, when HBO announced this project, it faced massive criticism, including its own hashtag on Twitter, #NoConfederate. Critics perceived the involvement of a husband and wife couple, Malcolm and Nichelle Spellman – two accomplished African-American writers – as an effort to use minority representatives to make the show acceptable with White showrunners. Regrettably, the public uproar resulted in yet another cancelation of a proposed project by Benioff and Weiss.
At this stage in their careers, it’s uncertain where David Benioff and D.B. Weiss stand, given that the second season of ‘The Three-Body Problem’ is yet to air, with them aiming to start filming by the end of 2024. They aren’t necessarily in a creative rut, especially with HBO and Netflix, but their perceived inability to create a hit without substantial source material has been persistent. The reception of Benioff’s recent solo projects, ‘Gemini Man’ and ‘Brothers,’ hasn’t helped dispel this perception. If ‘The Three-Body Problem’ doesn’t garner significant acclaim in its second season, it could signal the end of their partnership that once held a prominent position in the streaming industry. ‘The Three-Body Problem’ is available on Netflix, while ‘Game of Thrones’ can be found on Max.
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2024-09-25 02:31