Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has admitted that he almost signed the petition demanding to re-make the controversial final season.
Ending in 2019, the eighth and final season of HBO’s high-fantasy epic was notoriously divisive and spurred on some fans to create an online petition, calling on the show’s creator to re-write the season eight.
Obviously, this has not happened – although the popularity of the petition did earn a response from HBO, who basically admitted a re-shoot would never happen.
However, it turns out that one very-well known name nearly joined the backlash…but not for the reason you might think. That star? Only Jaime Lannister himself.
Speaking to Variety, Nikolaj admitted that modern fan-culture ‘fascinates’ him, and he nearly contributed financially to the cause as a little experiment.
‘I was aware of the petition for a new ending, which I thought was hilarious. I almost wanted to donate to that petition,’ the actor said,
‘[Imagine if] HBO [had said], “You’re right, so many people want it, we’re going to do it.” I think everyone had their own opinion.’
He continued: ‘Everyone wanted something specific and different from what they got. It’s a combination of – you imagine an ending; but also, I think if you’re a hardcore fan, it was really upsetting that it ended.’
Ultimately though, Nikolaj said that the show ‘had to end’ one way or another, no matter what the fans thought.
The Jaime Lannister star also revealed that he had ‘incredible experiences’ filming Thrones, and shared stories of working with Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner, who played Arya and Sansa Stark.
The world of Westeros certainly isn’t going away time soon, however, so don’t panic.
A prequel is on the way, centred around the Targaryen Dynasty’s arrival in Westeros and the ensuing civil war, which eventually paved the way for the evenrs of the main series.
Entitled House of the Dragon, it’s being overseen by A Song of Ice and Fire scribe George RR Martin, and if reports are to be believed, bosses have already started casting the three main characters.
Game of Thrones is available to stream via NOW TV.
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