A key member of the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon is furthering her relationship with HBO.
Sara Hess has inked a rich new two-year overall deal renewal with the premium cable network. Sources say the pact is among the richest for a writer at the cabler. Hess is currently working on HBO’s straight-to-series prequel House of the Dragon alongside co-showrunner Ryan Condal. This is her second overall deal with HBO that will also see her develop new projects for the cabler. Additionally, Hess has signed with Verve for representation in all areas. She continues to be repped by attorney Lev Ginsburg.
Hess first put down roots with the WarnerMedia-backed cabler in 2019 as she was readying another Game of Thrones prequel, the Jane Goldman pilot from franchise creator George R.R. Martin. The drama starring Naomi Watts, which Hess exec produced, was focused on the “Age of Heroes” and was surprisingly passed over in late 2019. She segued from that Game of Thrones prequel to House of the Dragon, which was picked up the same day as the pilot was axed.
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House of the Dragon is based on Martin’s Fire & Blood and is set 300 years before the events of the fantasy drama and tells the story of House Targaryen. Starring Olivia Cooke and Matt Smith, Hess exec produces the 10-episode series alongside co-creators Martin and Condal, the latter of whom serves as showrunner alongside Game of Thrones veteran Miguel Sapochnik. Sapochnik will direct the pilot and additional episodes. Exec producers also include Vince Gerardis and Ron Schmidt. Greg Yaitanes is a co-EP.
Hess started her career on HBO’s Deadwood and counts seven years of Fox’s House among her credits. She’s an NAACP award-winning writer and Emmy-nominated producer who also worked on Orange Is the New Black.
House of the Dragon is expected to premiere in 2022 on HBO.
