Report: George R.R. Martin Turned to ‘The Expanse’ Duo for Winds of Winter

George R.R. Martin may not be writing The Winds of Winter alone. A new report suggests the A Song of Ice and Fire author has quietly leaned on the writers behind The Expanse to help him wrestle his long‑awaited book toward the finish line.

On the Game of Thrones Podcast via Red Team Review, commentators claimed that Martin shared the full ending of his saga with Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck — the duo who write as James S.A. Corey — while collaborating on a comic adaptation tied to his work. According to the discussion, Martin “flat out told them the ending” of A Dream of Spring, flagging which beats were non‑negotiable for the series’ conclusion.[source]

What Martin Reportedly Shared — and Why It Matters

Abraham has previously confirmed that Martin once insisted a seemingly minor line of dialogue stay in early comic scripts because it would become the final sentence of the entire series.[source] If accurate, it means at least two other veteran writers not only know Westeros’ destination, but have been trusted to help guard its secrets.

This isn’t the first time Martin has invited other creators into his sandbox. He’s long juggled prose, comics, and television, and he’s now involved in everything from HBO’s growing Westeros slate to an Elden Ring film adaptation and a new animated spin on Greek mythology.[source] Fans frustrated by the wait will likely see the Expanse collaboration as proof that when Martin does bring in help, it’s from storytellers with serious long‑game cred.

Meanwhile, Martin has called Winds “the curse of my life,” but still insists the novel is a priority.[source] As of mid‑2025, he’s reportedly passed 1,500 pages, a notable jump from the 1,100–1,200 pages he was citing back in 2022. That’s a rare piece of concrete progress after years of opaque, often-criticized status updates.[source]

Westeros Keeps Expanding While the Book Crawls Forward

The new claims arrive as HBO leans even harder into prequels. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on Martin’s beloved Dunk and Egg novellas, is due January 18, 2026 — and is already filming a second season.Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2 That growing on‑screen universe has only intensified fan anxiety that the books are being left behind.

Our own coverage has traced how TV spinoffs, lawsuits, and side projects have all chipped away at Martin’s focus, turning the Winds delay into a saga of its own.Winds of Winter delay Martin himself has admitted he’s “always had trouble with deadlines” and hates missing them, even as he signs on to new series and adaptations.[source]

In that context, looping in Abraham and Franck could be less about outsourcing Westeros and more about giving the story a trusted safety net. While the Expanse universe itself is expanding into projects like the upcoming game Osiris Reborn, its creators now seem to be unofficial stewards of another sprawling epic’s endgame as well.[source]

For readers, the takeaway is bittersweet. The final destination for Westeros likely exists, mapped and shared among a tiny circle. The real question — still unanswered after nearly 15 years of waiting — is how long it will take Martin to lead us there on the page.