We’ve long speculated that the winds of winter would push the return of Game of Thrones to 2019—and now we know it’s official. HBO announced on Thursday that the final six episodes of the series, its eighth season, won’t hit our TV screens until 2019.
2018 is looking bleaker by the second—kidding (sort of).
Given the technical complexities that come with recreating George R.R. Martin’s epic world, what with all its ice dragons and fire magic and undead folks running about, it’s no surprise that the epic series needs time to film the epic battles, new arrivals, likely multiple endings, extreme locations, and get all that CGI lookin’ top notch. Plus, y’know, that spoiler wall is probably going to take a long time to build, too.
With a budget rumored around $15 million per episode, what we’re saying is, none of this is surprising. But it is a very, very big bummer for the more selfish among us. Of course, in the end, all that matters is we get a satisfying conclusion to the TV adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire so we can prepare comparing and contrasting all the minute differences between the novels and the show.
But what are your thoughts on this news? Excited? Sad? Let us know in the comments below.
Alicia Lutes is the Managing Editor, creator/co-host of Fangirling, and resident Khaleesi of House Nerdist. Find her on Twitter!
Want to Brush Up on Your Westerosi History?
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- And here’s one more potential spin-off—the legend of Aegon’s Conquest of Westeros!
