The former showrunners behind ‘Game of Thrones’ have inked a massive overall deal to develop shows and movies for Netflix…
‘Game of Thrones’ showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss are moving to Netflix.
The dynamic duo responsible for adapting George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy series into the biggest show in HBO history have inked a massive deal reportedly worth nine-figures to develop TV series and movies for Netflix.
Several suitors were in a bidding war to retain their services with many believing Disney would end up landing the pair after Benioff and Weiss signed onto develop a new ‘Star Wars’ trilogy of films with the first movie due out in 2022.
Instead, Netflix upped the ante and offered Benioff and Weiss a deal that was obviously too good to refuse.
“We’ve had a beautiful run with HBO for more than a decade and we’re grateful to everyone there for always making us feel at home,” Benioff and Weiss said in a shared statement released on Wednesday. “Over the past few months we’ve spent many hours talking to Cindy Holland and Peter Friedlander, as well as Ted Sarandos and Scott Stuber. We remember the same shots from the same ’80s movies; we love the same books; we’re excited about the same storytelling possibilities.
“Netflix has built something astounding and unprecedented, and we’re honored they invited us to join them.”
Netflix has been snapping up several notable showrunners over the past two years including similar deals for Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes. The streaming service has been competing with more and more competition recently with Disney preparing to launch Disney+ later this year while WarnerMedia will be launching HBO Max as well with both serving as direct competitors to Netflix.
Benioff and Weiss made careful consideration about their new home with several studios vying to land the duo that helped transform ‘Game of Thrones’ into arguably the biggest pop culture phenomenon on television since ‘The Sopranos’.
Now they will begin developing television series and films exclusively for Netflix outside of their already existing deals for the upcoming ‘Star Wars’ movies with Disney.
