Exclusive: Colossal CEO Ben Lamm discusses Game of Thrones influence on de-extincting the dire wolf.
Afterward there was only silence from this once prolific apex predator.
That is until October 2024.
For that was the monthColossal Bioscienceshad its biggest breakthrough yet in their ambitious de-extinction efforts.
It was the first time in millennia anyone had heard such a cry.
She would be Colossals first female dire wolf: Khaleesi.
People say, Why didnt you name her Lady?
Lamm muses with a smile.
Well, Lady died, and thats sad.
We didnt want to have that.
Martins literaryA Song of Ice and Firebook series and its iconic television adaptation,Game of Thrones.
I think that shows the robustness of our tools and process, and team, says Lamm.
I think it also shows the thoughtfulness of taking a 13,000-year-old tooth and 70,000-year-old skulls and making puppies.
And we did it in 18 months.
Suddenly what was the realm of fantasy, or science fiction, is startling scientific fact.
Its an epiphany that even George R.R.
I have the luxury of writing about magic, but you, Ben, have created magic.
A handful of days later Martin was holding the dire wolf they call Romulus in his arms.
They have also been revealed to Kit Harington.
Lamm tells us the plan is also to possibly name one of the next male dire wolves birthed Ghost.
So yes, theGame of Thronesinfluence on these dire wolves is strong.
However,Thronesis just a fantasy, as fleeting as a dream of spring.
The return of the ancient dire wolfor at least a modern approximation of itis now a scientific reality.
This will have reverberations long after a hundred winters have come and gone.
Stay tuned at Den of Geek for our full scientific-oriented chat with Lamm tomorrow!
