George R.R. Martin recently told IGN that there's one big twist coming up in the remaining novels in his A Song of Ice and Fire series that the HBO show can't touch. The reason? HBO has already killed off the character/characters that are involved in the twist.
"It involves a couple of characters, one of whom is dead on the show but not dead in the books. The show can't do this stuff, because they killed a character that I have not killed. I get all this stuff about being bloody-minded, but [showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss] are bloodier than I am."
Who do you think Martin is referring to? While the obvious choice is Jon Snow, lets look at all the Game of Thrones characters that are dead on the show but still alive in the novels.
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Rakharo - Dothraki bloodrider given to Daenerys Targaryen by Khal Drogo on their wedding day
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Irri - Dothraki handmaiden given to Daenerys Targaryen by Khal Drogo to teach Dany how to ride a horse
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Mago - Dothraki rider who openly challenged Daenerys' authority. On the show Khal Drogo killed him but in the books, he's still alive and encounters Daenerys again after Drogon flees Meereen following an attack by the Sons of the Harpy in the fighting pits of Daznak.
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Ser Meryn Trant - Former Kingsguard member who was slain by Arya in season 5
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Xaro Xhoan Daxos - Qarth merchant prince played by Nonso Anozie in season 2
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Pyat Pyree- Qarth warlock from the House of the Undying
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Jojen Reed - liegeman of the Stark House who instructed Bran on the use of his gifts during their journey on the other side of The Wall to find the Three-Eyed Crow/Raven
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Hizdahr zo Loraq - the noble master of Meereen who Dany considers marrying to quell the uprising by the Sons of Harpy
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Grenn - One of Jon Snow's closest friends in the Night's Watch
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Pyp - One of Jon Snow's closest friends in the Night's Watch, he's killed by Ygritte during Mance Rayder's attack on The Wall
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Shireen & Selyse Baratheon - Stannis Baratheon's wife and daughter. In season 5, Melisandre convinces Stannis to allow Shireen to be sacrificed which results in Selyse committing suicide soon thereafter.
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Myrcella Baratheon - in reality, she's the daughter of Jaime and Cersei Lannister. Ellaria Sand and three of the Sand Snakes, plot to kill Myrcella in season 5. Though it appears that Jamie and Bron will succeed in rescuing Myrcella, she is later poisoned by Ellaria aboard their return voyage to King's Landing.
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Catelyn Stark - Though she dies in the Red Wedding, Catelyn Stark returns as Lady Stoneface through the resureection powers of the Thoros of Myr, a priests of R’hllor and follower of the Lord of the Light. On the show, this does not happen and Catelyn remains dead.
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Mance Rayder - The King Beyond the Wall actually survives his capture by the Nightwatch in the novels. He's actually sent South, to free "Arya" from the evil clutches of Ramsay Bolton. In the show, Rayder is given a mercy kill from Jon Snow and Sansa is rescued by Theon Greyjoy/Reek.
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Barristan Selmy - Actor Ian McElhinney has publicly stated that he was rather surprised and miffed by the show's decision to off Sir Barristan the Bold. In the novels, when Drogon flies off with Dany, its Sir Barristan who is left to rule over Mereen and deal with the Sons of the Harpy.
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Stannis Baratheon - Killed in the finale of season 5 by Gwendoline Christie's Brienne of Tarth who's getting justice for the murder of Renly Baratheon, Stannis is actually still alive in the novels.
The next and sixth novel in Martin's fantasy series, "The Winds Of Winter" was originally intended to be released before season 6 of HBO's Game of Thrones, however Martin did not meet his deadline with his publisher and HBO's adaptation will spoil several elements from The Winds of Winter before the book's release. However, given the show's loose adherence to several of the storylines still unfolding in the books, it stands to reason that when all is said and done, there will be a very large difference between what unfolds on the show and what unfolds in the novels. Game of Thrones will return for a sixth season on HBO, April 24th.
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