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Maisie Williams is addressing reports that HBO could be developing a Game of Thrones spinoff centered on her beloved character, Arya Stark.
Williams, 29, revealed in a Sept. 6 interview with The Guardian that she had seen the reports herself but was surprised by the speculation.
"I saw that, too! I was like, 'Huh?'" she said.
While Williams has not ruled out returning to the role, she suggested that any potential Arya project would need to give the character meaningful development rather than simply revisiting her as fans remember her.
"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 reflected on what made Arya so popular with viewers, noting that the character's appeal came partly from the contrast between her age and the mature experiences she faced.
"I feel like what people loved about Arya is that she was always a child doing things that were quite grownup," she said.
Williams was just 12 when she joined Game of Thrones, meaning much of her childhood and adolescence unfolded while filming the HBO fantasy series. The experience of growing up alongside Arya made moving on from the role particularly complicated.
Looking back, Williams admitted that the first years after the show ended were extremely difficult.
"The first half of my 20s was just hell, but I think maybe it is for a lot of people," she said.
She explained that the conclusion of Game of Thrones left her uncertain about what came next and in need of a break. She also described dealing with delayed teenage experiences, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and an industry strike.
The possibility of returning to the Game of Thrones universe comes as HBO continues expanding the franchise. The network has already produced House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, while a theatrical project focused on Aegon the Conqueror is also in development.
Williams would not be the only former cast member whose character has been considered for a continuation. Kit Harington previously worked with HBO on a potential Jon Snow sequel, but the project was ultimately shelved after the team failed to find the right story.
"I think he ended well," Harington previously said of Jon. "So, if you pick him up again, it needs to be for the right reasons."
