David Farnor | On 08, Aug 2019

Netflix has signed an exclusive overall deal with Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

The duo have been based at HBO for a decade working on the fantasy series, based on George RR Martin’s books. Whatever viewers’ thoughts on the final season, there is no doubt that the programme has been one of the biggest in the world, and one of the most talked-about TV events each year.

With the show drawing to its close earlier this summer, the pair have been highly sought after among broadcasters and streamers looking to create the next water cooler hit. They are reported to have met with Netflix, HBO/WarnerMedia, Disney, Comcast, Amazon and Apple. That field narrowed down to just Netflix, Amazon and Disney, but the streaming giant won out with a sum that Deadline reports is in the nine-digit range.

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in a statement: “We are thrilled to welcome master storytellers David Benioff and Dan Weiss to Netflix. They are a creative force and have delighted audiences worldwide with their epic storytelling. We can’t wait to see what their imaginations will bring to our members.”

Benioff and Weiss added: “We’ve had a beautiful run with HBO for more than a decade and we’re grateful to everyone there for always making us feel at home. Over the past few months we’ve spent many hours talking to Cindy Holland and Peter Friedlander, as well as Ted Sarandos and Scott Stuber. We remember the same shots from the same ‘80s movies; we love the same books; we’re excited about the same storytelling possibilities. Netflix has built something astounding and unprecedented, and we’re honored they invited us to join them.”

The deal will reportedly allow them to finish off their other commitments, including one of the next Star Wars trilogies and a Kurt Cobain project they penned for Universal.

They join a formidable line-up of talent with deals in place at Netflix, including Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes.

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