At the Game of Thrones panel at Comic-Con, author George R. R. Martin moderated select cast and crew (Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Jason Momoa, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and creators David Benioff & D.B Weiss) as they discussed the forthcoming second season and beyond, special features on the first season’s bluray/dvd, what initially hooked them to the show and how they would end the book series – if they were Martin. For highlights from the panel, read beyond.

HBO has announced two extremely exciting panels that will appear at this year’s Comic-Con: Game of Thrones and True Blood. The cable channel’s new hit series Game of Thrones is making its first appearance at the convention. George R.R. Martin, who wrote the books off of which Thrones is based and serves as a producer/writer on the show, will be moderating the panel. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B Weiss will be joined by stars Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Jason Momoa and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will appear at the panel which is scheduled for Thursday, July 21^st, just days before season two begins production.

Additionally, Alan Ball’s True Blood is making its fourth consecutive appearance at the Con, with Ball and stars Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Kevin Alejandro, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Nelsan Ellis, Joe Manganiello and Deborah Ann Woll scheduled to appear at the panel on Friday, July 22^nd. Hit the jump to read HBO’s full press release.

Based on author George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of books, the HBO epic drama series Game of Thrones is a magnificent and brutal fantasy about two families who are engaged in a deadly battle for power and control. Although it takes place in another time and world that appears to be very foreign on the surface, the struggles are surprisingly universal and so intriguing that you will be immediately hooked and in for the 10-episode ride of Season 1.

During a recent interview, George R.R. Martin talked about the process of bringing his written words to the screen in a way that he never could have imagined, the experience of turning over his long-time work to the producers of the series (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss), how thrilled he is with what he’s already seen of the final product, his desire to do a cameo at some point, the Twitter battle that started when executive producer Damon Lindelof started when he heard he didn’t like the ending of Lost, and how he hopes to finish the book series before the TV show catches up. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

The HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones, adapted from George R.R. Martin’s best-selling Song of Ice and Fire books, is one of the most highly anticipated series in recent memory. And, all of the hype that you’re hearing about it is completely deserved, as it is also one of the most intriguing, well-written and believably acted epics that I’ve seen, in a long time. As someone who is normally not what I would consider to be a fan of high fantasy, I got so engrossed in the story and characters that I watched the screeners for the first six episodes in one sitting. It’s that good. I’m sold, as I’m sure countless other viewers will be as well.

During a recent interview, executive producers/writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss talked about tackling the complex and compelling work of author George R.R. Martin, casting such a wide variety of characters, the challenge of revealing the basic information in a way that doesn’t overwhelm viewers who aren’t familiar with the book, and often wondering what they’d gotten themselves into. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

We’re just two weeks away from the premiere of the new HBO series Game of Thrones, and while we’ve seen several different trailers for the fantasy drama, the cable network has decided a more lengthy preview is in order. Last night HBO premiered the first 14 minutes from the first episode in the series, and damn does it look exquisite. Based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire the sprawling tale set in the mythical land of Westeros tells the story of the noble Stark family who become caught up in high court intrigue when patriarch Eddard (played by Sean Bean) becomes the king’s new right-hand man. The cast also includes Mark Addy, Lena Headey, Harry Lloyd, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jennifer Ehle and Peter Dinklage. Check out the extended preview below and stay tuned for our advanced review of the first few episodes sometime soon.

HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones is promising to be unlike anything else on TV.  While there have been TV shows that take place in a fantasy realm, Thrones looks like it will have a scope far beyond sword-fighting in a forest and not using contractions.  HBO has released a new preview of the show that takes a look at the setting and the various lands and environs the characters inhabit.  After watching this preview, I couldn’t help but wonder how this information will be introduced organically into the show.

Hit the jump to check out the preview.  Game of Thrones stars Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Mark Addy, Kit Harrington, and Tamzin Merchant.  The series premieres April 17th.

More news straight out of the Television Critics Association press tour has HBO finally announcing the premiere dates for two of its anticipated project in 2011. First, the new medieval series (watch the trailer here Game of Thrones has been promoted all over the cable network, and now they’ve finally announced the series will premiere on April 17th. Based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire the sprawling tale set in the mythical land of Westeros tells the story of the noble Stark family who become caught up in high court intrigue when patriarch Eddard (played by Sean Bean) becomes the king’s new right-hand man.

Also, HBO announced their miniseries Mildred Pierce, starring Kate Winslet, will debut on March 27th. You can watch the trailer right here but for a quick refresher, the miniseries (directed by Far from Heaven helmer Todd Haynes and based on James M. Cain’s novel) follows a proud, single mother (Winslet) struggling to earn her daughter’s love during the depression in middle-class Los Angeles. As with pretty much all of HBO’s projects, both look very promising, and I’m looking forward to see them in the spring. How about you?

We just got a better look at HBO’s upcoming epic medieval series Game of Thrones with an all-new trailer. Now the cable network has now released a 10-minute behind the scenes featurette that really digs into the story, characters and all the work that’s going in this adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire. Interviews with cast members like Sean Bean and Peter Dinklage, as well as the book’s author himself, and the sight of sword fighting, jousting and a truly promising production just get me excited even more for the series premiere in 2011. Check out the great featurette after the jump!