The Game of Thrones prequel has brought the franchise home to Northern Ireland as filming gets underway.
According to a new report in The Belfast Telegraph, secret filming locations have popped up not far from some of the memorable scenes of Season 1.
It’s claimed that filming started ‘in various locations’ across County Down and the north coast last week, as well as Titanic Studios in Belfast.
Many scenes for the first season of Game of Thrones were filmed here in Northern Ireland.
These filming locations have included Tollymore Forest, featuring as the lands around Winterfell, and Castle Ward, which originally appeared as Winterfell.
Then there was Inch Abbey, which was used as Robb Stark’s Camp, Riverrun in Season 1.
Meanwhile, in Belfast, The Dark Hedges featured in a major scene with Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) in Season 2.
So for many Game of Thrones fans, these Northern Ireland filming locations will feel like a homecoming.
Last month, it was reported that production had officially begun on the prequel, one week before the final episode of Season 8 aired in the UK.
Placing filming in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, insiders said the production was being referred to under the working title, Bloodmoon.
At this stage, it’s believed that a pilot for the series is going ahead but the future is uncertain.
HBO boss Bob Greenblatt confirmed the casting of Naomi Watts last October and since then, Josh Whitehouse, Naomi Ackie and Denise Gough have come on board.
It will be set thousands of years before Game of Thrones and will document Westeros following the Age of Heroes.
This will include the true origins of the White Walkers, as well as the various mysteries and legends that exist in the land.
Despite seeing the prequel move at a fast pace, within weeks of the GoT conclusion, it’s thought we might not see it on screens until 2021.
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