George R.R. Martin thinks Game Of Thrones could’ve lasted for 13 series

It may have been seven years since George R.R. Martin last wrote a book in his unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire series, but he is certain that the producers of Game of Thrones would have already had enough content to extend the show for six more series instead of ending it next year. 

During an interview with Vulture on the red carpet of Sunday's Emmy awards, the author said of the hit HBO series, "We could have gone to 11, 12, 13 seasons, but I guess they wanted a life." 

The hit show – based on Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books – first began in 2011 and its eighth and final series will broadcast next year. The epic saga's conclusion is expected to focus on the battle of civilisation against the White Walkers and reveal who ends up on the Iron Throne.

But, despite his longing to prolong the original series, Martin did say that he had no plans to work on any spin-off shows featuring characters within the current series as he understands the star's leading actors, such as Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington, are eager to move on.

"I think this story ends when it ends...as great as they are the actors are anxious to get on and play other roles. They don't want to spend their entire lives playing one role," he explained. 

Instead the author is focusing on the future of Westeros on screen, in particular "five prequels [to the series] in development" for HBO.

Martin revealed that the prequels will span centuries: "Some of them are just 100 years before Game of Thrones, some of them 5000 years before Game of Thrones," he said. 

One prequel, Jane Goldman's Age of Heroes, is well into the development stages and is set to reveal some of Westeros' darkest secrets, from the mysteries of the Stark family to the origins of the White Walkers. 

The events of the origin tale will take place 10,000 years before Game of Thrones begins and are set to end 6,000 years prior. 

As for HBO's current golden goose, Game of Thrones, a teaser, which broadcast on the US channel at the end of August, showed Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Jon Snow (Harrington) embracing at Winterfell. 

At Sunday's Emmys, Game of Thrones scooped the biggest prize of the night, the award for outstanding drama series, and Peter Dinklage received his third Emmy for his role as Tyrion Lannister in the show.