George R.R. Martin is primarily known as a writer. However, he currently has an appearance in a TV series, where he plays a character that suspiciously resembles himself.
Which series is it? Dark Winds is a TV series with thriller elements, whose third season has just started. It revolves around a group of police officers investigating in the American South during the 1970s.
One of the producers of the series is none other than George R.R. Martin. The author is mainly known for his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, which has been running since 1996 and was adapted into a series under the name Game of Thrones.
Martin has a small guest appearance in the new season of Dark Winds. Apparently, he plays himself and has a very similar problem in the scene as when he writes his books.
“George, the whole world is waiting”
What happens in the scene? George R.R. Martin is sitting during his short appearance in a prison cell. Across from him sits another producer of the TV series, who is also a very renowned actor: Robert Redford.
The two old gentlemen are engrossed in a game of chess when the protagonist of the series, police officer Joe Leaphorn, arrives. He eagerly follows the game. George R.R. Martin has the next move but cannot decide which chess piece he wants to move next.
After a while, Redford’s character says: “George, the whole world is waiting. Make a move.” Martin continues to ponder until Leaphorn himself gives him a tip.
Here you can see the scene:
Why is the scene so special? Although it is short, Redford’s line can be understood as a clear reference to Martin’s writing pace. The author is notoriously known for taking a very long time when writing his books.
Fans have been waiting for the sixth volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, titled The Winds of Winter, for years. The last book was published in 2011, the same year the TV adaptation premiered.
Redford speaks for many fans when he says that the whole world is waiting for Martin’s next step. Some even fear that the book series will not be completed, as the author is already 76 years old. He himself is also unsure. After all, two more volumes are supposed to follow.
That Martin finds the time to play a role in a series and work on other projects like Elden Ring might upset some book fans. However, the appearance in Dark Winds is full of self-irony and should be understood with a wink. The author revealed what inspired him for his popular series: George R.R. Martin is tired of Game of Thrones being compared to The Lord of the Rings and names entirely different inspirations
