"Game of Thrones" hit series might be getting a spin-off

PanARMENIAN.Net - With such a hugely popular series like "Game of Thrones", it will be a shame if it ends sooner than anyone expects. While there have been unofficial rumblings that the show would end with shortened seasons 7 and 8, there's a way to continue the franchise: with a spin-off, AceShowbiz said.

HBO programming president Michael Lombardo doesn't rule out the possibility of making a spin-off based on characters on the hit medieval drama, but says at this moment there is nothing in the works yet. "No," he tells EW. "If that were to happen it would have to come from [showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss] really feeling something, or [author George R.R. Martin] really feeling that it was the right thing to do."

He adds, "Not knowing how this particular story ends, I don't know. There are plenty of characters, secondary characters, [that] you could build a world around. We're always going to be drawn to a strong creative vision. But we are not going to do that unless we feel their passion."

Benioff himself previously said that there could be so much to tell about supporting characters like Sam [John Bradley] and Gilly [Hannah Murray]. "We could do a great half-hour comedy with Sam and Gilly. It's an embarrassment of riches. There are so many great characters and you want to spend more time with them," he said when making season 3.

Right now, however, they have no time to discuss that potential spin-off as they've already got their hands full with "Game of Thrones". "No, we don't talk about that stuff," Weiss says. "The job at hand is too enormous and challenging to be further diffusing ourselves by thinking about spin-offs, and theme park rides, and ice ballets ... but if anybody has a good pitch for a good Game of Thrones ice ballet, let us know."

"Game of Thrones" season 6 premieres Sunday, April 24 at 9 P.M. on HBO.