Season 6 of Game of Thrones has taken fans beyond the events of George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire novels and moved the characters towards the series’ endgame. But that conclusion could mean shorter seasons for the show.

Veteran TV director Jack Bender was interviewed by Vanity Fair about the two episodes of Game of Thrones that he helmed this season. When asked if he would return for the seventh season, Bender replied, “I don’t know the answer to that They’re only doing seven [episodes], and they’ve got their regulars who have done it forever.”

While that news is sure to disappoint some fans, it’s not entirely a surprise. Back in April, Game of Thrones co-showrunner David Benioff said “I think we’re down to our final 13 episodes after this season. We’re heading into the final lap. That’s the guess, though nothing is yet set in stone, but that’s what we’re looking at.”

If HBO has settled on 13 episodes and season 7 will only get seven, then the planned eighth season would be 6 episodes long. Considering there may be nearly a year between seasons 7 and 8, that’s going to be a very long wait for fans. But that’s nothing compared to the book readers who have been waiting for Martin to finish his final two novels in the series!

From a business perspective, it’s understandable why HBO would rather split the remaining episodes than deliver a 13 episode final season. Game of Thrones is one of the network’s most popular shows and the reigning Emmy winner for best drama. It’s the kind of hit that just doesn’t come along very often, and HBO won’t let it go without getting as much out of it as possible.

How do you feel about the shortened season 7 of Game of Thrones? Call forth your bannermen and share your thoughts below!

Image: HBO