Game Of Thrones’ final series will be over soon, leaving Thronies of the show with nothing but repeats to fill the void. And the XX series.
Filming has finished, spoilers are trickling out and the cast won’t stop talking about their characters’ final moments in Westeros.
The eighth series of the HBO series is highly anticipated, even more so since it was confirmed it’s the show’s swansong *sob*.
Here, we round up everything we know so far about the upcoming series of Game Of Thrones…
WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for Game Of Thrones. (We warned you…).
When is it released?
We’re not going to lie, we still don’t know the release date, with it previously just being confirmed for the ‘first half’ of 2019.
HBO’s programming president Casey Bloys narrowed the show’s release window at the Television Critics Asssociation’s press tour (via Entertainment Weekly) in July.
However, it’s now been suggested there could be even more of a delay on the last episodes than we first thought.
While it was thought we wouldn’t get the new series until at least May, it’s now thought it will be April.
Visual effects supervisor Joe Bauer telling Huffington Post that the series wouldn’t be eligible for the Emmys next year:
‘We’re going to be toiling away on season eight until May of 2019, so it’s eight or nine months away,’ he explained.
Since shows have to air the majority of their episodes before May 31st in any given year to qualify for Emmy nominations, it’s a fair bet on those grounds that Game Of Thrones won’t be airing before then.
A fan theory has decided 14 April will be the launch date.
Why? Well, user Cubuffs424 wrote: ‘I’m sure many people have seen fan-made posters that say April 14th 2019 as the release date. Anyway, I was just looking into something based on season 7 dates.
‘So the first official footage for season 7, much like the footage we saw last month for season 8, was released on November 27th, 2016. The season then premiered on July 16th, 2017, which I found to be 231 days later.
‘I then compared that to the footage that was released on August 26th, 2018 by adding 231 days to it. The date I found? Sunday April 14th, 2019. Can’t be a coincidence can it?’
For some, this is just about all the evidence they need to be convinced that this is pretty much, bang on. I mean, we already knew that this would be in the right season?
How many episodes are there?
Sadly, the final series will also be the shortest one yet, with just six episodes left to wrap up all the hanging plot threads in Westeros.
All of the episodes are set to be between 50 and 90 minutes long, with no two hour specials.
So why the delay, given it’s a much shorter series?
Well HBO bosses explained earlier in the year that the series just wouldn’t be ready before then, with showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss wanting time to craft the strongest season finale they could.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly Casey Bloys explained: ‘Here’s what I’ll tell you: They take the time they need to do the show at its highest level of quality.
‘As the show has gone on, it’s gotten bigger — big battle scenes, big special effects. These things take time.’
He added: Here’s the one thing I can assure you: Dan and Dave were not sitting around on a beach waiting to go back to work. They’re perfectionists and this is the soonest it can come back at a level of quality that they are comfortable with.’
Bloys also shot down reports the Game Of Thrones prequel led by Jane Goldman will start filming in October, stating shooting will begin in early 2019 with the project searching for a director.
Is there a trailer?
Kind of.
We’ve had our first look at what’s in store via a special HBO teaser that gives fans a tiny glimpse at Game of Thrones season eight.
The broadcaster’s 2019 preview video features snippets of HBO’s most popular shows like Big Little Lies and Veep. It’s a sneaky Thrones reveal that’s got everyone talking though.
Sorry, this video isn’t available any more.
Hidden among a ton of archive shots from season seven is a clip of Jon Snow reuniting with sister and Lady of the North Sansa Stark.
It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance, but watch carefully at the 1:10 mark and you’ll see what we’re talking about.
The reunion will be welcomed by Thrones fans, as Sansa and Arya Stark both met up after seasons apart in the last batch of episodes.
However, the hug shared doesn’t feel all that warm and others should worry if the pair’s alliance will be tested in season eight.
Another interesting thing to note is the amount of scenes in the teaser to feature Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen cosying up to each other.
Of course, all the moments included were from season seven, but if we’re looking at the video as a preview of what’s to come then it could imply that their romance – teased in 2018’s finale – will feature heavily in season eight.
Bloys previously revealed to Entertainment Weekly that while he doesn’t yet know when the full trailer will be released, it’s likely to be in 2018. Hoorah!
Burning castles galore
An early leak from the set showed House Stark’s residence at Winterfell coated in flames, with claims over 200 extras were involved in a ‘big battle scene’.
Considering Sansa was left in charge of the place in Jon Snow’s absence, could this be the first stop on the White Walker rampage now they’ve torn through the wall? And could this be Sansa’s big test of her leadership qualities she’s started to show?
The Unsullied army were also reportedly spotted filming not too far away in Toome, indicating Daenerys and Jon Snow could perhaps be involved in the conflict too.
More leaked set pictures show King’s Landing looking in a pretty rough shape too, with reports pyrotechnics had been used around the set.
There’s been previous hints from show producers (and Bran Stark’s vision) a dragon could be about to cause mayhem over King’s Landing – so could Cersei Lannister bow out via brutal scorching?
Back to the Dragonpit
The body doubles of both Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) were spotted both returning to the Italica amphitheatre ruins in Seville, where season seven’s Dragonpit sequence was filmed.
It’s perhaps unsurprising another round in the Dragonpit looks to be taking place considering season seven’s felt slightly anticlimactic – with the meeting of Daenerys, Cersei, Jon Snow, Brienne and more not really amounting to much. Could this be a more devastating encounter?
New faces
A previous report from Watchers On The Wall indicated eight new people had been cast in the show, even though judging by the generic titles, these could be more battle fodder amid the ongoing war.
Other castings include Daniella Galligan as Sarra, which will presumably be Sarra Frey aka a granddaughter of Walder Frey.
Alice Nokes has also been cast as a character named Willa, while German actor Marc Rissman (Into The Badlands) has joined as Harry Strickland, who is the leader of the Golden Company.
You might recall Cersei sent Euron Greyjoy to bring back the Golden Company to aid her defence over the Iron Throne, so it looks like they could play a tide-turning role in the final season.
Old, returning faces
After Metro.co.uk spoke to Tobias Menzies, he didn’t exactly rule out a potential return in the final season as Edmure Tully.
His reappearance could herald House Tully’s return, with Edmure having married Walder Frey’s daughter Roslin at the infamous Red Wedding.
Roslin is now living somewhere in Westeros with her and Edmure’s newborn son, so a return could revive their exiled house and allow them to reclaim the riverlands.
Another old face who is seemingly returning is Wilf Scolding as Rhaegar Targaryen, after deleting a post on Instagram showing him near the Belfast set.
This likely means we’ll be diving deep into Bran Stark’s visions as The Three Eyed Raven once more. After all, we’re still waiting for Jon Snow to find out his worrying connection to Daenerys.
One person who is most likely not returning is Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed, who confirmed to Metro.co.uk she’d yet to receive a call about coming back.
Tragedy ahead?
The latest fan theory doing the rounds on the worldwide web has recalled a crucial moment from season two, which may have spelled the death of Daenerys Targaryen, and it’s terrifyingly plausible.
Reddit user Bronn of The Blackwater, arguably the best moniker across the entire internet, wrote: ‘I’m currently doing a re-watch, and I just finished watching S02E10. I just realised that Daenarys’ vision might be a big foreshadow.
‘In her vision, Dany sees the iron throne, she reached for it, but then decided to go north of the wall and found Khal Drogo with her son.
‘I think the first part already happened: Dany had the opportunity to seized the throne, by fighting Cersei, but decided to go North instead to help Jon Snow fight the Night King.
‘So, maybe the second part of the vision will happen in season 8 and Daenerys will joined Drogo and her son by dying because she decided to go North.’
Since Drago’s untimely death, rumblings that he’ll return before the HBO epic comes to a close have never really settled.
And Jason Momoa has only fuelled rumours he’s reprising his role as the war lord when he shared a picture with the surviving stars of Game of Thrones, including Emilia Clarke and Isaac Hempstead Wright.
Though, another theory poised this week claimed to have worked out Daenerys’ final chapter, predicting the Mother of Dragons will ditch Westeros altogether and set up camp in Essos, which we’d have done ages ago, to be honest.
Sadly, we’ve got an agonising wait still left to go as HBO boss Casey Bloys recently revealed Game of Thrones won’t be back until the first of next year.
Who is directing?
Show creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are directing one episode of the final season, presumably the finale.
The rest of the episodes will be directed by Miguel Sapochnik, who was responsible for the excellent season six finale and Battle Of The Bastards, along with David Nutter, who most famously directed the Red Wedding episode.
What have the cast said about the final season?
Nathalie Emmanuel previously told Metro.co.uk season eight ‘definitely will not be a rushed conclusion’ while Joe Dempsie teased it’ll be an unexpected and ‘satisfying’.
‘It’s an ending I don’t think many people will be expecting and I think, on reflection, people will really, really enjoy.’
Emilia Clarke meanwhile has stated the final season will divide viewers, with some being confused while others ‘will scream’.
In other words, it sounds like it could be an ending which is more open-ended than we’re expecting – which might not deliver when it comes to instant gratification.
Peter Dinklage didn’t do us any favours of reassurance when he warned fans they’re ‘in for it’ when the fantasy epic returns.
The 49-year-old opened up about Tyrion Lannister’s end game, though of course he’s keeping the hero’s fate a closely guarded secret.
‘There are no better writers in television than [showrunners] Dan Weiss and David Benioff,’ he told Entertainment Tonight. ‘They ended it brilliantly. Better than I could have imagined and you people are in for it.’
He teased: ‘It ends beautifully for my character, whether it be tragic or not.’
If you need more GOT content, check out some of the believable, and slightly crazy theories circulating the web. You’re welcome.
Game Of Thrones season 7 is currently available to watch on NOW TV so you can catch up to your heart’s content before season 8 kicks off in 2019.
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