George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones, Nightflyers) says his working relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal (Colony, Rampage) has deteriorated, calling it “abysmal” in recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, according to TVLine. Martin, the author, executive producer, and co-creator of the HBO series, said his collaboration with Condal began with promise but changed over time, leading to growing frustration with the adaptation process.
In the interview noted by TVline, Martin explained that his partnership with Condal during the first season of House of the Dragon was initially productive. “I hired Ryan. I thought Ryan and I were partners. And we were all through the first season. It was working really well, I thought,” Martin said. That early collaboration also included support for co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik, who later exited the series following the first season.
Martin stated that creative tensions emerged during the second season, when he felt Condal increasingly ignored his notes and script feedback. “Then we got into Season 2, and [Condal] basically stopped listening to me,” Martin told The Hollywood Reporter. He added that his feedback frequently went unaddressed, which contributed to escalating disagreements between the two.
Martin also referenced a blog post, that mxdwn previously covered, in which he publicly criticized a major narrative change, warning that removing a character could affect future storylines. The post was later taken down after HBO intervened. According to Martin, the situation led to a tense virtual meeting with the network, during which he said, “This is not my story any longer.” HBO subsequently asked Martin to step back from the series, only to bring him back into discussions months later.
An HBO source told TVLine that communication between Martin and the production team had “broken and needed a reset,” while also emphasizing the continued value of Martin’s involvement. The interview arrives as House of the Dragon prepares for its third season, which is scheduled to debut in 2026. The series has also been renewed for a fourth season that may serve as its final chapter.
Martin’s remarks provide rare insight into the behind-the-scenes creative challenges facing one of HBO’s flagship franchises. His experience reflects broader industry tensions surrounding creative control, collaboration, and adaptation decisions in high-profile television productions.