HBO’s ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Abandons Gran Canaria Following Storm Damage
The HBO production A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has abandoned filming in Gran Canaria after severe flooding from storm Therese damaged sets and disrupted the production schedule.
The Canary Islands' film industry has suffered a significant setback after the HBO production A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was forced to pull out of Gran Canaria. According to Televisión Canaria, the production team had to abandon their plans and move filming to the mainland because storm Therese made it impossible to stick to their schedule in the island's highlands.
The storm caused water levels at the Presa de las Niñas reservoir to reach their highest point in 15 years. This flooding damaged the sets and equipment located near the La Fortaleza archaeological site, rendering the area unusable despite the production having a contract there until mid-May. Raúl García Brink, the Island Council’s Minister of Environment, confirmed that the extent of the damage and the inability to continue filming—despite months of preparation—led to the team's departure.
This is a major blow to the local economy, which expected a 20-million-euro boost from the project, based on the works of George R.R. Martin. The production had hired 300 professionals and hundreds of extras. The Island Council is now requiring the production company to provide a plan to restore the site, which is in addition to environmental efforts already underway, such as the planting of 50 Canary Island pines.
The incident highlights the risks of filming large-scale productions in protected natural areas. Balancing the economic benefits of the film industry with the need to protect archaeological and environmental sites becomes increasingly difficult when extreme weather disrupts logistical planning. As the floodwaters recede, local authorities are monitoring the area to ensure that the removal of the sets does not further damage the environment.