At long last, Game of Thrones Season Eight is almost entirely filmed. It’s been an epic endeavor that often seemed endless, but Liam Cunningham, who plays the show’s lovable Davos Seaworth, recently informed us that GOT really is “very very close to finished…” with filming. While Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) still seems to be lurking about the show’s production base of Belfast, many actors have filmed their final scenes and moved on to new projects. For example, Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), who has been in Belfast with Thrones for most of the fall and spring, recently got to work on two new film projects.
It’s good to know that we’ll be able 
to continue seeing our favorite Thrones stars on our screens long after the show has ended. Take Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo), who left the show years ago but is currently making headlines with his upcoming superhero movie. On the other hand, Kit Harington (Jon Snow) who will be marrying his former Game of Thrones counterpart, Rose Leslie, next week, will take a break from acting in front of the cameras for a more intimate attempt at live theater later this year. Game of Thrones stars aren’t the only ones expanding their careers and skills– Vintage Wine Estates which has previously partnered with HBO to put out Game of Thrones themed wine, is releasing a new pinot noir this month, which will come emblazoned with a Martell or Tyrell sigil.
Moving on, a few days after the news broke that HBO had ordered a pilot episode for a potential Game of Thrones spin-off show, author George R.R. Martin took to his blog to elaborate on the announcement. Martin, who worked with potential show-runner Jane Goldman on the spin-off (although he emphasizes in a limited capacity) , talked about what we can expect from the show:
“Yes, this is a prequel, not a sequel. None of the characters or actors from GAME OF THRONES will appear in the new show,” and what he’d like to title it: “My vote would be THE LONG NIGHT, which says it all, but I’d be surprised if that’s where we end up. More likely HBO will want to work the phrase “game of thrones” in there somewhere. We’ll know sooner or later.”
Martin also touched on the other Game of Thrones spin-off shows in development and revealed that one had been “shelved,” but that there is still hope for the rest– “Three more GAME OF THRONES prequels, set in different periods and featuring different characters and storylines, remain in active development. ”
Not surprisingly, Martin also addressed the continued wait for the next installment of his book series:
“And yes, before you ask, work on WINDS OF WINTER continues, and remains my top priority. It is ridiculous to think otherwise. If I wasn’t busy with WINDS, don’t you think I’d be scripting one or more of these pilots myself? It’s not as if I’ve never written for TV…”
Martin’s last A Song of Ice and Fire book, “A Dance with Dragons,” was published in July of 2011, a month after the finale of Game of Thrones Season One. He currently plans to add two more books to the series: “The Winds of Winter,” and “A Dream of Spring.”
Finally, HBO has announced that both Game of Thrones and Westworld will not have panels at San Diego Comic-Con 2018. Deadline reports HBO will have no presence at Comic-Con at all this year.
Game of Thrones has been a staple of Comic-Con for years, and its absence will be sorely felt– especially as fans were hoping to see a Thrones trailer at the event. There is still no premiere date for the show’s final season which will air next year, nor have any promotional materials been released.
HBO cited “production schedules” and “air dates,” for its absence– likely because Westworld will just have completed its second season a month or two before the convention and Game of Thrones will have barely finished filming Season Eight. It’s disappointing, but one can be sure that next year, with the end of Game of Thrones, and Westworld back in production for Season Three, Comic-Con will be dominated by HBO properties.
That’s all for now! Keep checking in with us for the latest Game of Thrones news.
