George R.R. Martin has suggested that Tyrion Lannister will die in the A Song of Ice and Fire book series, even though the character survived in HBO’s Game of Thrones. At the same time, Martin hinted that another major character—Sansa Stark—may now live, despite his original plans.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Martin said the HBO series ended in a way that was much happier than he ever intended. He explained that if he had finished the books before the show caught up, many more characters would have died.
“I was going to kill more people,” Martin said. “Not the ones they killed [in the show]. They made it more of a happy ending.”
Martin specifically mentioned Tyrion, saying he does not see a happy ending for the character. According to him, Tyrion’s story has been tragic from the very beginning, and that arc was never meant to end well.
However, Martin also revealed a possible change of heart about Sansa Stark. He said he originally planned to kill her but may now let her live because of how strongly she was portrayed and received in the TV series.
Frustration Over the Show and Fan Pressure
Martin also spoke about the pressure he faces to finish the books, especially The Winds of Winter. He shared his frustration with fans who suggest he should let someone else finish the story because of his age.
“I really didn’t need that,” Martin said, adding that he is still actively writing, even if progress has been slow.
In addition to The Winds of Winter, Martin said he still plans to write more Dunk and Egg stories and another Fire & Blood book. He admitted he is behind on all of his projects but stressed that he has not stopped working.
Ongoing Tension With HBO
Martin has also grown more distant from HBO in recent years. He has expressed dissatisfaction with how Game of Thrones ended and has suggested that later seasons no longer reflected his vision. He has also hinted at creative disagreements involving House of the Dragon, though he says he is not allowed to discuss details.
While his relationship with HBO appears to remain professional, Martin has made it clear that the ending of his books will be very different from what viewers saw on television. If and when the series is finished, he expects the conclusion to be darker, more tragic, and far less comforting.
