The last series of Game of Thrones will air next year, but fans will be glad to know there’s a prequel in the works.
The prequel, titled The Long Night, will be set during the Age of Heroes in Westeros and will feature Naomi Watts as a ‘charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret.’
Rebecca Humphries jokes she’s been ‘dead for five years’ in major dig at ex Seann Walsh
According to HBO: ‘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.
‘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, only one thing is for sure: it’s not the story we think we know.’
So what does that mean, and what can we expect to see from the series?
Truthfully, no-one knows. But referring to the books and fan theories can give us a few clues.
What time period does the Age of Heroes relate to?
Details are sketchy, but, judging from author George R. R. Martin’s books, it took place around ten thousand years before Game of Thrones, and it more or less correlates with when the Seven Kingdoms began to form.
During this time the Seven Kingdoms were distinct Kingdoms who were at battle with one another.
This period – which may have lasted around 4,000 years – is expected to feature some mythical figures from Game of Thrones lore.
What characters will feature in it?
We can expect to see the debut of Azor Ahoi on screen, who you may recognise from Game of Thrones as The Prince That Was Promised.
Azor Ahai became a legendary warrior thanks to using Lightbarer to defeat the White Walkers during The Long Night when they were first a problem for the world of the living thousands of years ago.
It is likely that it is his rise to hero status and his battle with the Walkers that will be covered in the GoT prequel.
Again, if the books are anything to go by, it could feature Bran the Builder, who oversaw the construction of The Wall and Winterfell and founded House Stark as well as Lann the Clever who was an ancestor of House Lannister
It’s expected that a lot more magical creatures will be present in the sequel, compared to Game of Thrones where only a few Children of the Forest and giants feature (and of course the dragons).
What major events took place during this time?
The Long Night was the period of winter that lasted an entire generation.
The worst winter ever to face Westeros also bore witness to the White Walkers’ invasion of the fictional world.
Aside from HBO’s cryptic line, little is known so far about the prequel series, so watch this space!
MORE: Game of Thrones season 8 was meant to be three films instead of six episode finale
