Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

HBO defends Game of Thrones creators' new show Confederate: 'Judge the final product not what it could be or might be'

Network regrets how the show was announced

Christopher Hooton
Thursday 27 July 2017 09:46 BST
Comments
(Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

HBO has said it was 'misguided' in how it announced Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss' new series about an America where slavery is still legal.

“File this under hindsight is 20-20,” HBO programming president Casey Bloys said at the Television Critics Association event in LA this week, adding that he wished there was an opportunity for a do-over.

“Our mistake — HBO’s mistake, not the producers — was the idea that we would be able to announce an idea that is so sensitive and requires such care and thought on the part of the producers in a press release was misguided on our part," he continued, adding that he wished the producers had sat with journalists to discuss the show and their vision for it in depth.

"Richard [Plepler, CEO of HBO] and I had the benefit of sitting with these four producers. We heard why they wanted to do the show, what they were excited about. So we had that context. But I completely understand why somebody reading the press release wouldn’t have that."

Though Bloys was critical of the announcement, he stands by the show itself.

“The producers have said they’re not looking to do ‘Gone With the Wind’ 2017," he said. "It’s not whips and plantations. It’s what they imagine a modern day institution of slavery would look like."

"All we can do is ask that people judge the final product of these artists and not what it could be or might be."

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in