After months of not knowing very much at all about the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel, quite a bit of information has come out in a very short space of time.
We know that it will be called ‘The Long Night’, we know that Naomi Watts and Josh Whitehouse will star in it and we now know that it will follow the story of Azor Ahoi.
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Thrones fanatics will know this name and his story, but for those who are not quite so knowledgeable about the the history of Westeros and Essos, he will be new to you.
Well here is what we know about him at this point…
If you don’t recognise the name Azor Ahoi, you might be more familiar with The Prince That Was Promised, which Melissandre and Thoros of Myr bang on about in Game of Thrones.
On meeting Daenerys at Dragonstone, Melissandre told the Dragon Queen that, ‘Only the prince who was promised can bring the dawn.’
Azor Ahai was a legendary hero who wielded a burning sword called the Lightbarer, chosen to fight against the darkness which loomed over the world.
To make such a weapon, Azor Ahai had to sacrifice his lover Nissa Nissa.
He lived thousands of years before the Game of Thrones story, but the prophecy is that he will return and be reborn.
Melissandre had believed that Stannis Baratheon was The Prince That Was Promised, but now it looks like it might be Jon Snow – but we will not know until season eight arrives next year.
Thoros of Myr said about the prophecy: ‘According to prophecy, our champion will be reborn to wake dragons from stone and reforge the great sword Lightbringer that defeated the darkness those thousands of years ago.
‘If the old tales are true, a terrible weapon forged with a loving wife’s heart.’
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.
Whilst not confirmed that he will play Azor Ahai, Josh Whitehouse has been cast as the first male lead in The Long Night.
As for Game of Thrones, season eight will be landing on HBO and Sky Atlantic in 2019.
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