Casey Bloys: The Mastermind Behind HBO's Reign

When you sit down for a chat with Casey Bloys, HBO’s head honcho, it’s a little like attending a dinner party where the host forgot to check the battery levels on the remote. You expect the latest gossip and an insider's glance at what makes the electromagnetic magic of television work, but instead, you find yourself face-to-face with a guy who hasn’t even plugged into the gaming craze. “When we did The Last of Us, a lot of people asked me, ‘Did you want to do that because it was a video game?’” Bloys muses. “The answer is a messy ‘No.’ I’ve never seen a PlayStation.”

Now, is it just me or does this seem a bit outrageous? The guy runs HBO! Yet here he is, blissfully untethered from the very consoles that have entranced millions. But maybe that’s the secret sauce behind his approach to programming—eschewing the glitzy allure of intellectual property for the handcrafted charms of originality.

We’ve all been indulging in spirited debates about IP versus original ideas, a showbiz conversation piece that's been done to death over the last year and a half. But Bloys, bless his heart, approaches it with a perspective that’s refreshingly nuanced. The Last of Us may be a love letter to a beloved video game, but what captured his imagination was Craig Mazin’s clear and compelling vision. “That’s what I’m betting on,” he asserts. “Not that video game IP will draw people in. There's a fanbase, sure, but it can sometimes be a double-edged sword.”

As if to punctuate his point, he highlights hits like Mare of Easttown, Succession, and White Lotus, all original ideas birthed through a collaboration that feels more like a carefully orchestrated jam session than a corporate assembly line. “The best thing you can do is get in business with people you trust,” Bloys says, with a wink that suggests he’s seen it all—like a seasoned chef who knows the difference between a dash of salt and a heaping spoonful of disaster.

Currently, Bloys finds himself navigating through the glittering chaos of Paris, preparing for the European premiere of House of the Dragon. Ah yes, “the long-awaited tentpole sequel,” as if it were an extravagant family reunion where no one knows whether to bring potato salad or a plus-one.

One might imagine Bloys’s phone buzzing with requests for yet another Game of Thrones spinoff, but he’s staggeringly guarded about that. “If you’re saying we need to have three Game of Thrones shows per year, you’re fulfilling an order, not making the best creative decisions,” he remarks, effectively drawing a line in the sand between artistic integrity and throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.

With HBO’s reputation resting on a tightrope, he believes in a calculated approach to expansion. “We’ve tried to be fairly considered,” he says, as if searching for the balance between an artist’s vision and the industry clock ticking away in the background. There’s still tons of great content being produced, and he believes in the quality over quantity ethos, without ever venturing too close to an indulgent buffet of mediocrity.

His philosophy echoes the careful curation seen at FX, where John Landgraf has honed a similar model. In essence, Bloys is saying, “Let’s take our time and create something worth savoring, rather than hurrying to serve the masses.” It’s as though he’s taking quality control to fancy restaurant levels, where every dish on the menu is Instagrammable.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, he reveals that HBO isn’t about to ditch the international co-producers, even as others may hoard their gems like a dragon hoarding gold. “We’re talking with BBC about various co-productions,” Bloys shares, proving that he sees the long game and isn’t afraid to invite friends over to help make the magic happen.

In an industry full of shifting allegiances and fickle tastes, Bloys wraps up our conversation with the air of someone who sees opportunity amidst the chaos. “Everybody's protective of the brand because of what we have done,” he says reflectively, reminding us that HBO’s legacy is as rich as the stories it tells. And as the chatter fades and reality sets in, you get the feeling that Bloys is not just steering the ship; he’s choreographing a dance on a sea of uncertainty, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.