It just wouldn’t be Game of Thrones if your favorite characters didn’t die.
New information from Variety has revealed that a leading executive from HBO hinted that a number of popular characters would inevitably be meeting their demise as the hit TV show gears up for its final season.
Francesca Orsi, senior vice president of drama at HBO, recently said during a panel at the INTV conference in Israel that a read-through of the last episodes ‘… was a really powerful moment in our lives and our careers. None of the cast had received the scripts prior and one by one they started falling down to their deaths’.
Game of Thrones season 8 will likely see lots of drama and shocking moments for fans to enjoy
Although it wasn’t immediately clear as to whether Orsi meant the shock of the actors or the deaths of the characters they play onscreen, there’s no doubt that the final season of the hit TV show will be packed with drama and unexpected moments.
Orsi also stated that the actors gave a standing ovation with ‘tears… in their eyes’ after the read-through for the final episodes.
She also said that a number of Game of Thrones spinoffs were planned, though budgetary details were still being worked out.
Oris said: ‘There is a conundrum if we do take off on one of these Game of Thrones spin-offs, where do we start? We can’t obviously start with the budget of season eight but would it be a Game of Thrones season three budget?’
Even with the hit TV series coming to an end, fans of the show will soon have even more of its trademark fantasy drama to look forward too.
Here’s a look at when Game of Thrones season 8 is expected to start, the show’s filming locations, trailer, how to watch on TV and spoilers.
When does Game of Thrones season 8 start?
Game of Thrones will return sometime in 2019.
An exact date has yet to be confirmed by HBO.
Game of Thrones filming locations
The hit show’s rich scenery is filmed in various locations across Europe, a number of which have benefited from an ensuing tourism boom thanks to the show’s popularity.
Croatia is well-known by fans as one of the show’s primary filming locations, with the historic city of Dubrovnik serving as the real life location of the capital city of King’s Landing.
Northern Ireland has also been featured fairly extensively, with the Downhill Strand and Dark Hedges being featured as notable locations in the Game of Thrones universe.
Iceland has also been prominently featured in Game of Thrones, its wild, mysterious lands serving as the location for scenes beyond The Wall.
Other countries where filming has taken place include Scotland, Spain, Malta and others.
Game of Thrones season 8 trailer
Currently, no Game of Thrones season 8 trailer has been released.
A preview trailer should be released in the coming months as filming wraps up.
How to watch Game of Thrones on TV
For fans in the United States, the hit show can be seen on HBO, HBO Now and HBO Go at 9pm EST on Sundays.
UK viewers can catch the show on Sky Atlantic or Now TV on Mondays at 9pm GMT.
Australians can also watch on Foxtel at 8:30PM AEST on Mondays.
Game of Thrones season 8 spoilers
As expected, secrecy has been airtight for the filming of the final season of Game of Thrones. A few details have slipped out, however.
Arya Stark actress Maisie Williams recently revealed that she’s been training extensively in sword fighting and stunt combat, sparking speculation that she could play a pivotal role in a major battle.
New photos have also been revealed of Jon Snow in King’s Landing meeting with Cersei, leading to much speculation as to what the scene could entail.
Perhaps most notably, recent footage has shown House Stark’s bastion of Winterfell beset by a conflagration.