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⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
You seriously missed it if you didn't spot the Game of Thrones creators dismantling a dragon android in Westworld Season 3! They even brought in the same VFX team to make sure Drogon looked totally legit.
HBO really thought they were being lowkey when they tucked a massive Easter egg into Westworld Season 3, but we definitely saw it. If you blinked during Season 3, Episode 2, “The Winter Line,” you might have missed the ultimate high-concept crossover between two of the biggest shows in TV history. While Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) and Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth) are walking through rooms filled with failed Delos park prototypes, the showrunners behind the Iron Throne themselves made an appearance.
The Dragon in the Room
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss briefly popped up as technicians working to dismantle a dragon android. It wasn’t just any dragon, either; it looked identical to Daenerys Targaryen’s beast, Drogon. To make sure the vibes were authentic, Westworld actually recruited Pixomondo, which is the same VFX production company that worked on Game of Thrones, to recreate him for the scene. During their brief interaction, the duo mentions sending parts to a startup in Costa Rica while the dragon lets out a very familiar growl. We thought we’d kind of indulge in that for a moment, and who better to bring to the park than Dan and Dave? Lisa Joy explained in a featurette that they wanted to lean into the jokes fans had been making about a potential crossover.
💫 We thought we'd kind of indulge in that for a moment, and who better to bring to the park than Dan and Dave?
George R.R. Martin Weighs In
Even the creator of Westeros had thoughts on the matter after the episode aired in 2020. Writing on his Not a Blog, George R.R. Martin noted that while some people loved the cameo and others hated it, everyone seemed to be overreacting. He admitted he didn’t even know his universe was showing up until he watched the episode himself. Interestingly, Martin revealed he actually suggested a “Westeros World” concept to Jonathan Nolan because the original Westworld film featured a medieval setting. While we didn’t get any cameos from Sean Bean or Richard Madden, the idea of seeing dead characters brought back via Delos tech is a wild thought. The internet went totally feral with theories, with some joking that a theme park version of Westeros would have been a much better ending to Season 8 than what we actually got.
Did you catch the dragon cameo when the episode first dropped, or did it fly right over your head?
❓ People Also Ask
What was the Game of Thrones cameo in Westworld Season 3?
The Game of Thrones cameo features showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss appearing as technicians in Westworld Season 3, Episode 2. During a scene where characters Bernard and Stubbs walk through a room of failed Delos prototypes, the duo is seen working to dismantle a dragon android. This dragon appears identical to Drogon, the beast belonging to Daenerys Targaryen. The appearance was intended as a high-concept crossover to lean into fan jokes about the two massive HBO franchises meeting.
How was the dragon in Westworld recreated for the crossover scene?
The dragon in the Westworld crossover scene was recreated using Pixomondo, which is the same visual effects production company that worked on Game of Thrones. By employing the original VFX team, the showrunners ensured that the dragon looked and sounded authentic to the original series. This allowed the android to let out a familiar growl while Benioff and Weiss discussed sending parts to a startup in Costa Rica. Using the original studio helped maintain the high-concept connection between the two worlds.
What did George R.R. Martin say about the Westworld crossover?
George R.R. Martin stated that while fans had polarizing reactions to the cameo, most people were overreacting to the event. The creator of the Westeros universe revealed that he was unaware his world would appear in the episode until he watched it himself. Interestingly, Martin had previously suggested a Westeros World concept to Jonathan Nolan because the original Westworld film utilized a medieval setting. He noted that the internet's intense reaction was a significant part of the conversation surrounding the episode.
Why did Westworld showrunners include David Benioff and D.B. Weiss in an episode?
The Westworld showrunners included David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to play into fan theories and jokes regarding a potential crossover between the two shows. By featuring the Game of Thrones creators alongside a dragon android, the production leaned into the high-concept connection between the franchises. Lisa Joy explained that this decision was a way to acknowledge the existing buzz within the fan community. This creative choice turned a walk through a prototype room into a significant Easter egg for viewers.
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📰 Source: TVLine