Game of Thrones creators, Benioff and Weiss, reflect on divisive finale, prioritize creative focus. (Mike Coppola/FilmMagic)
The conclusion of the Game of Thrones series sparked a range of reactions, with fans divided on the outcome. Despite the polarizing finale, the creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, remain steadfast in their commitment to the creative process. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the duo shed light on their approach to handling public feedback.
During the discussion about their upcoming sci-fi drama, 3 Body Problem, Benioff acknowledged the unrealistic expectation of universal acclaim, stating, "You always hope everyone's going to love anything you do, but they didn't." Weiss added that excessive focus on public opinion can be counterproductive, stating, "You can get so bogged down in public opinion that you spend your whole life googling things."
Weiss highlighted the stress-inducing nature of feedback, even when positive, and noted a significant reduction in stress levels when they decided to disengage from online commentary. "There's a drug quality to the feedback, and as soon as we went cold turkey...the ambient stress level in our lives dropped by about 50 percent overnight," Weiss explained.
With their new venture, the sci-fi series 3 Body Problem, set to premiere on Netflix on March 21, Benioff and Weiss acknowledged the need to prove themselves once again. Despite Game of Thrones' past success and awards, Benioff emphasized, "It's great we won a bunch of awards, but that was a while ago. You have to keep proving yourself."
Weiss shared insights into their creative journey, comparing the new series to their experience with Game of Thrones. "What excited us about Thrones when we read George's books was that this was something we had never seen onscreen before," he said. Despite the differences between the two projects, Benioff added, "In a lot of ways, [3 Body Problem] couldn't be more different from Game of Thrones, but it had that in common."
The creators expressed the challenges and excitement of venturing into uncharted territory with 3 Body Problem. Benioff noted, "It was the first thing we'd come across since Thrones where we were actually scared. We knew this is going to be hard."
As they prepare to unveil their new creation, Benioff and Weiss remain focused on the ever-evolving nature of the entertainment industry, recognizing the importance of continuous reinvention. The anticipation for 3 Body Problem builds as the duo aims to captivate audiences once again with a fresh and distinct narrative.
