Game of Thrones began in 2011 and quickly brought the TV world to a halt as many shows began to pay attention to the fantasy epic genre.
With just six episodes left of the series before its end, HBO producers are working hard on bringing the next series to fruition.
The next iteration of Game of Thrones will take place thousands of years before the birth of the characters viewers know and love.
Titled “The Long Night,” the show currently doesn’t have a release date, but has recently cast a number of actors and a director on the show.
A few cast members were previously announced for the show and included Naomi Watts – best known for Gypsy, and The Impossible – as well as Josh Whitehouse – a mainstay from Poldark.
Since then Lady MacBeth and Yardie star Naomi Ackie was cast alongside Denise Gough, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sheila Atim, Alex Sharp, and Georgie Henley.
As well as these cast members Ivanno Jeremiah is involved – who viewers may recognise from the Black Mirror episode “Shut Up and Dance.”
He is also joined by Toby Regbo who has recently appeared in Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Crimes of Grindelwald – while historically appearing in The CW’s Reign.
The cast news was quickly followed by the announcement of the show’s director.
S.J. Clarkson will be directing the show and it looks like the show is in good hands as her resume includes directing credits on Marvel series Jessica Jones and Orange is the New Black, as well as Dexter and Bates Motel.
Most recently Clarkson has been involved in the next instalment of J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie franchise.
The show’s synopsis was released last year and reads: “Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour.
“And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’s history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.”
It is as of yet unknown whether Game of Thrones fans will see any references to the eight-season epic in The Long Night.
However fans will surely see family members of their favourite characters from houses Stark, Targaryen, and Lannister.
Lately Game of Thrones fans have been abuzz as they have been theorising the end of the Night King (played by Vladmir Furdik).
Passionate fans have been pointing out the hideously underused amounts of dragonglass.
Writing on Reddit, a fan said: “Just thinking out loud, but did they forge any dragonglass arrowheads? It was speculated last season by Jorah [Iain Glenn] that if the Night King was killed those he brought to life would drop dead.
“But getting close to the White Walkers in most battles seems highly unlikely. As Tyrion [Lannister, Peter Dinklage] said, it only takes one well placed arrow.”
Could a dragonglass arrow be the fate of the Night King in the final season?
Game of Thrones season 8 will return to HBO and Sky Atlantic in April. Seasons 1-7 are currently streaming on NOW TV.
