Here’s Why George R.R. Martin Turned Down a ‘Game of Thrones’ Cameo

From movie-length episodes to an epic fight scene that puts the Battle of the Bastards to shame, season eight of Game of Thrones will undoubtedly be one for the books. However, that doesn’t mean George R.R. Martin is interested in appearing in the final installment.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 70-year-old author revealed that showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss asked him to make a cameo in the upcoming season, and he turned it down. Just let that sink in.

“David and Dan invited me to a cameo in one of the final episodes, which I was tempted to do,” he said. “But I didn’t think just for the sake of a cameo I could take the time to return to Belfast.”

Martin currently resides in New Mexico, which means he’d have to endure the ten-hour-plus flight to Northern Ireland to film. While we’d admittedly jump at the opportunity, it wouldn’t be the author’s first time filming a cameo.

In fact, Martin was supposed to appear in the GoT pilot, but his scene got cut when Emilia Clarke was cast as Daenerys Targaryen. “There was a cameo in the original pilot that was cut,” he added. “I was a guest at Dany’s wedding. But that was when she was played by Tamzin Merchant, so all that footage got thrown out when we recast with Emilia Clarke.”

Martin is currently writing the sixth novel in the series, The Winds of Winter. He’s expected to release a seventh novel, A Dream of Spring, shortly after.

If they’re still looking for someone to fill his cameo spot, you know where to find us.