‘The Winds of Winter’ Release Date, News & Update: How George RR Martin Feels That 'GoT’ Exceeded His Books?

One of HBO’s most successful TV series, “Game of Thrones,” is the brainchild of renowned sci-fi and fantasy novel author George R.R. Martin. But, unfortunately, the delay on the release of “The Winds of Winter” meant the show has officially exceeded its original source material.

At one of Martin’s interviews when the first volume of “Fire and Blood” was released last November, the critically-acclaimed novelist was asked who he felt when that happened. “[Writing ‘The Winds of Winter’ is] a more complex task and, therefore, it takes longer. But, you know, in the words of the immortal Super Chicken, ‘I knew the job was dangerous when I took it.’ So, you know, there I am -- one page at a time.”

It became clear in 2016 that “Game of Thrones” season 6 will be produced and released while Martin still has a long way to go before finishing “The Winds of Winter.” Earlier that year, Martin also revealed in a LiveJournal post that his publisher gave him a 2015 deadline, which he was not able to meet.

The author said they initially planned for him to finish the manuscript by October 2015. They had hoped “The Winds of Winter” would be released in March 2016 or about a month before “Game of Thrones” season 6 premiered.

“You're disappointed, and you're not alone. My editors and publishers are disappointed, HBO is disappointed, my agents and foreign publishers and translators are disappointed... but no one could possibly be more disappointed than me,” the “The Winds of Winter” author wrote in January 2016.

On a more positive note, the release of “Fire and Blood” meant that “The Winds of Winter” is now back on the top of Martin’s priority list. Hopes for the sixth book to be released in the coming months (or year) was further sparked when it was reported that Martin had gone to his secret cabin where he finished “A Dance with Dragons.”