Maisie Williams spent most of her childhood becoming Arya Stark, but stepping away from the “Game of Thrones” character brought a difficult period of its own.
Now, as reports circulate about a possible Arya-centered project, the actress is confronting what it would actually mean to return to a role she has long since outgrown.
Williams has not ruled it out, but her latest comments suggest that bringing Arya back would require more than simply putting the character’s familiar costume back on.
Reports of a potential project centered on Arya Stark have already reached Williams, but the actress admitted she was just as surprised to hear about them.
During a September 6 interview with The Guardian, the 29-year-old responded to the reports by saying, “I saw that, too! I was like, ‘Huh?’”
Williams, who played Arya from childhood through the end of “Game of Thrones,” stopped short of confirming that she would return.
Instead, she explained that the character would need meaningful development before she could consider stepping back into the role.
“I don’t know, really. She would have to be developed in some way because I feel like I’ve changed so much,” Williams explained.
She also pointed to what made Arya so compelling to audiences in the first place, noting, “what people loved about Arya is that she was always a child doing things that were quite grownup.”
‘Game of Thrones’ Ending Left Williams Struggling
Williams’ hesitation comes with an important personal history. She was only 12 when she was cast as Arya, meaning much of her adolescence unfolded on the “Game of Thrones” set. By the time the series concluded, she had spent years growing up alongside the character.
During The Guardian interview, the actress reflected candidly on what happened after leaving that chapter behind. “The first half of my 20s was just hell, but I think maybe it is for a lot of people,” she shared.
Williams connected that difficult period directly to the end of the HBO phenomenon, explaining, “I think that has more to do with the fact that Game of Thrones was ending, and I didn’t know what I was going to do next, and I just needed a break, to be honest with you.”
She also noted that she was dealing with delayed teenage experiences and personal growth she felt she had not been able to navigate earlier.
“And then it also has to do with delayed teenage awkward years and figuring a lot of things out that I felt like maybe I couldn’t do much earlier than that,” Williams revealed.
She additionally cited “COVID, and also an industry strike” as factors that contributed to that challenging stretch.
‘Game Of Thrones’ Movie Plans Reveal A New Future For Westeros
While Arya Stark remains one of the characters fans most want to see again, the larger “Game of Thrones” universe is already moving toward a completely different era of Westeros.
In March, Page Six reported that Warner Bros. was developing a theatrical “Game of Thrones” movie, with “House of Cards” creator and “Andor” writer Beau Willimon attached to write the screenplay.
The project was reportedly centered on Aegon the Conqueror, although the precise plot details were not officially confirmed.
The movie, now titled “Aegon’s Conquest,” would take viewers back roughly 300 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” focusing on the Targaryen ruler who launched the campaign that transformed Westeros.
Aegon, alongside his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys, used three dragons to conquer six of the seven kingdoms and establish the Targaryen dynasty. Dorne remained independent at the time.
The project also received a significant corporate update. Warner Bros. Discovery included “Aegon’s Conquest” in its theatrical slate “Beyond 2027,” meaning the movie is not expected to arrive before 2028. The company described it as a theatrical event film from the “Game of Thrones” universe.
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‘Game Of Thrones’ A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Gets Major Update
The franchise’s television future is also taking shape through “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” which offers a much smaller-scale story than the original “Game of Thrones.”
The series follows Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, Egg, who is secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen. Set roughly a century before the events of “Game of Thrones,” the show is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas.
TV Insider reported that filming for Season two had already wrapped. Peter Claffey, who plays Dunk, marked the production’s end in August, with filming beginning in Belfast in December 2025 and continuing at various locations.
Production faced a delay due to flooding in Spain, but the season ultimately wrapped filming. The second season adapts “The Sworn Sword,” the second “Dunk and Egg” novella, and HBO is targeting the first half of 2027 for its return.
The series’ future could extend considerably further, too. With three published novellas and Martin having discussed additional material, showrunner Ira Parker has imagined continuing the story across multiple seasons and even allowing the actors to age naturally between installments.
The show has already made a strong impression on HBO, earning nine Emmy nominations in 2026, including Outstanding Drama Series.
Lena Headey Recalls ‘Shocking’ Backlash Over Nude Scene Decision
While HBO continues expanding the “Game of Thrones” universe through new films and television projects, one of the franchise’s most recognizable stars is looking back at a controversy that unfolded during the show’s original run.
As The Blast reported, Lena Headey reflected on the reaction she faced after using a body double for Cersei Lannister’s infamous Season 5 “Walk of Atonement” scene. Headey admitted she was caught off guard by the public response, saying, “I was shocked by the anger.”
The actress explained that she chose not to perform the full nudity herself, with body double Rebecca Van Cleave appearing in the sequence while visual effects combined Van Cleave’s body performance with Headey’s facial acting.
Headey said she was surprised some viewers treated the decision as though she had somehow failed to fully commit to the role.
She felt the emotional demands of the scene were more important than filming it completely nude herself. The sequence required Cersei to endure public humiliation as she walked through King’s Landing, making the character’s emotional state central to the performance.
