Created by Goldman and Martin and written by Goldman based on a story by her and Martin, the untitled prequel takes place thousands of years before the events of Game Of Thrones. It chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.

The creative team behind the project is not giving away much about Watts’ character — she will play a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret.

Goldman serves as showrunner and will executive produce alongside Martin as well as fellow GOT co-executive producer Vince Gerardis and Damages and Bloodline co-creator Daniel Zelman. Added since the June pilot green light are former BBC Studios executive James Farrell and Jim Danger Gray (Orange Is the New Black, Hannibal) as executive producers and Chris Symes (The Alienist) as co-executive producer. As previously announced, GOT creators/exec producers David Benioff and  D. B. Weiss have no involvement in the potential offshoots.

GOT, created by Benioff and Weiss, has a male lead, Jon Snow. Looking to differentiate itself from the mothership series and coming from a female writer, Goldman, it was a logical assumption that the prequel could have a female lead, something Watts’ high-profile casting seems to reaffirm. That is not exactly the case, HBO President of programming Casey Bloys told Deadline in July.

(Excerpt) Read more in: Deadline