George R.R. Martin hates cameos — this has long been known. He even refused to appear in Game of Thrones, preferring to focus on writing The Winds of Winter (he still does). But for the sake of the series Dark Winds, where he serves as executive producer, the writer made an exception. And then he ran into some harsh trolling from Robert Redford.
"George, the whole world is waiting!"
In the first episode of Dark Winds' third season, Martin and Redford (another producer on the show) are playing chess in prison. At that moment, the main character, Lt. Joe Leaphorn, approaches them, and Redford says something that would sound completely mundane in another context:
"George, the whole world is waiting. Make your move!"
Those who simply followed the plot took it as a common phrase, urging on an indecisive chess player. But fans of A Song of Ice and Fire chuckled, understanding the hidden meaning: the world really has been waiting — for 14 years — for the continuation of the saga.
A line that was not in the script
As it turned out later, this phrase was not written into the script. Dark Winds showrunner John Wirth admitted that Redford himself improvised it, and Martin was not offended and even appreciated the joke.
Actor Kiowa Gordon, who also plays in the series, added that Martin made a cameo only because he loves the show.
"George doesn't like to appear on camera, but he made an exception for us. It means the show is really important to him," Gordon said.
The writer himself has not yet commented on his "troll cameo," and perhaps his appearance on camera is proof that he is still alive and really writing The Winds of Winter. Let's hope so.
