Everything You Need To Know About The Final Seasons Of ‘Game Of Thrones’
A great war is looming in the Seven Kingdoms and winter is here, which can only mean one thing — “Game of Thrones” is coming to an end. The show returns to HBO for Season 7 in just over two weeks, with the final season to follow sometime after.
Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss delivered some serious updates about both the penultimate and the final seasons of “Game of Thrones” during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. The duo confirmed that they’re currently writing Season 8 and are nearly done — sort of, anyway. Benioff optimistically told the publication the final installment of the wildly popular show is “nearly completed,” while Weiss seemed to have a different opinion.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” he retorted. “It’s exciting but there’s always pressure. You don’t ever want to drop the ball.”
Read: Is This How ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 7 Will End?
Whether the writing stage is near completion or not, it looks like it’s going to be a while before “Game of Thrones” fans get to see the conclusion of the HBO series. Benioff and Weiss addressed rumors stating that the show would be back in 2018. It seems there may be an even longer wait for the final season, which will be significantly shorter than any that have come before it.
“We honestly don’t know yet. There’s been a lot of back and forth about air dates,” Benioff said. “That’s a long way off from being settled.”
Although so much is currently up in the air about both Season 7 and 8, there’s a lot we do know for sure. Here’s the scoop:
“Game of Thrones” Seasons 7 And 8 Will Be Short
Benioff and Weiss made the decision to shorten the final two seasons of “Game of Thrones” from the typical 10 episodes. The second to last season will have seven episodes, while the final one will have six. Fans won’t get shortchanged on the action though, that’s for sure.
Rumors first began swirling about Season 7 of “Game of Thrones” scaling back in size in 2016. EW released the names of four directors chosen to helm upcoming episodes of the show, noting that there was one less than usual. Those reports went unconfirmed for some time.
Iain Glen, who plays Jorah Mormont on the show, was the first to break the news, telling Radio Times exactly how many hours were left in “Game of Thrones” as a whole. He blamed filming delays on “the scale and size” of the set and the stories that are being told. Thronies took comfort in his comments, which suggested Season 7 and the final season that follows will be over the top.
“Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams, known for playing Arya Stark on the show since Season 1, later appeared in a Facebook Live, where she was asked about the length of Season 7. She confirmed that there would be seven episodes in Season 7, but vowed they’d be action-packed. She teased potentially longer episodes, despite the lesser number of episodes, which has since been confirmed.
“We only have seven episodes this time,” she said (via NME). “But we’re shooting for just as long, so there’s just as much content. And you guys will not be disappointed.”
Weiss and Benioff confirmed on June 8 that not one, but two episodes in Season 7 will run longer than 60 minutes. While some will near an hour and a half run time, others will be significantly shorter. The shortest episodes will run about 50 minutes, according to EW.
There Will Be Surprise Reunions
As a major threat closes in on the Seven Kingdoms, “Game of Thrones” fans can finally expect all their favorite characters in the same location. Many have been waiting for several seasons for characters like Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and the like to find their way to one another and it seems showrunners Weiss and Benioff have obliged. The pair told EW there will be reunions, first meetings and more in Season 7 and, likely, in Season 8.
“There’s a whole bunch of reunions and first time meetings that people have been waiting for for a long time and when you put it on paper you just want to do justice to the work that these guys have done building these characters over so many years,” Weiss said. “You want to give them as much as you can.”
There Will Be Bloodshed
Last season fans saw what might be the bloodiest battle in “Game of Thrones” history, the battle of the bastards, play out between Jon’s hodgepodge army and Ramsay Bolton’s (Iwan Rheon) men. Moving forward, things are only going to get bloodier. Benioff told EW fans should expect crazier stunts, people “set on fire” and growth from all the show’s stars.
“Everyone steps up their game every season. I know you probably get sick of hearing us say that. We say it every year. But it’s kind of astounding to us,” he said. “We were looking at a battle scene and we set more stuntmen on fire in one of these shots than have ever been simultaneously set on fire…but every department constantly improves, from the effects to the acting.”
Jon’s Message Is More Poignant Than Ever
HBO released the second trailer for Season 7 of “Game of Thrones” on June 21. In the clip, Jon can be heard calling for unity. He reveals that the threat of the Night King (Vladimir Furdik) and the White Walkers is realer now than ever, which suggests the people in the Seven Kingdoms will finally have to take him seriously.
The trailer shows Jon confronting the Night King, which “Game of Thrones” fans have mixed feelings about. Read more about it HERE.
The Lannisters Are In Trouble
Cersei (Lena Headey) and Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster Waldau) have had prices on their heads since early on in the show. Now that Cersei’s made herself comfortable on the Iron Throne, however, there are more people than ever before out to get her. “Game of Thrones” fans have taken a liking to a theory stemming from a prophecy by Maggy the Frog (Jodhi May) in Season 5, which suggests a valonqar — or little brother in High Valyrian — will kill her.
More on that HERE.
Another popular theory is that Jaime, Cersei’s brother/lover, will finally grow tired of her thirst for power and vengeance in Season 7 or Season 8. “Game of Thrones” fans believe he’ll turn on her and kill her. Coster-Waldau was asked about the theory during an interview with the Daily Beast, but didn’t entertain it beyond hailing it a “good theory.”
Read: Peter Dinklage Shares Tryion Lannister’s Key To Survival On ‘Game Of Thrones’
There’s Going To Be A Power Shift
Whether Cersei’s killed or not, there’s going to be a shift in power before “Game of Thrones” ends. Either she’ll find herself dethroned, by death or other means, or the Night King and his army will arrive and turn the Seven Kingdoms on its head. Regardless, the Mad Queen’s reign will likely be brief.
Dying to know more about the final seasons of “Game of Thrones”? Check out more in depth theories HERE and HERE. Tune in when Season 7 premieres Sunday, July 16 at 9 p.m. EDT on HBO.
Here’s what we know so far about Seasons 7 and 8 of “Game of Thrones.” Photo: HBO
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