Game of Thrones Spin-Off on Arya Stark? Maisie Williams Says Yes, But There’s a Catch!

The Game of Thrones phenomenon is unstoppable. Following eight seasons of the legendary original series, which aired on HBO from 2011 to 2019 and won numerous awards, two spin-offs have emerged: House of the Dragon (2022) and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026), both receiving warm receptions from audiences and critics alike. With several more years ahead for these series, additional derivative projects are currently in development, for both television and film.

A Spin-off Focused on Arya Stark?

While there was talk of a series about Jon Snow’s life as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch post-Game of Thrones which HBO later dropped, fans are clamoring for the return of another iconic character from the series: Arya Stark.

The youngest daughter of the Starks of Winterfell, Arya’s journey through the series is marked by survival after the fall of her house. To avenge her parents’ executioners, she becomes a peerless fighter and even joins the secretive order of the Faceless Men. At the end of Game of Thrones, after saving the world from the threat of the White Walkers with her assassin skills, Arya sets off to explore lands unknown.

“What’s west of Westeros?” she asked her surviving brothers and sisters at the end of season 8, hinting at her upcoming journey. This question still excites viewers today, as it opens up the possibility to explore a part of the Game of Thrones universe that remains undiscovered. However, the main actress herself has spoken about these new adventures and seems less than thrilled about returning to the role…

What Do We Say to HBO? Not Today

Although rumors have been swirling among die-hard Game of Thrones fans since 2024, when George R.R. Martin mentioned on his blog that he was interested in the idea, no spin-off centered on Arya Stark’s new adventures has been confirmed. Even though this role brought Maisie Williams fame and public adoration, she doesn’t seem eager to revisit her character.

When asked about her interest in this potential spin-off by The Guardian, Maisie Williams said: “I don’t know [if I’d be interested]. The character would need to evolve somehow, because I’ve changed a lot and I feel that what people loved about Arya was that she was a child with an adult’s demeanor.“

Indeed, nearly a decade has passed since the end of Game of Thrones, and while the character of Arya has remained static in time, the actress has aged. To convince her to wield Needle once more, a time jump seems necessary. The door isn’t wide open, but it’s not entirely closed either…