The golden hand may have just given a bit more credence to the rumor that Game of Thrones‘ final season may not air until 2019. In a new interview with Collider, Jaime Lannister himself, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau revealed when the series goes back into production on the end installment of the song of ice and fireâand it’s even later than it was this year.
Speaking with Collider, Coster-Waldau noted that “You get the scripts a month before we start shooting, or six weeks, and then you know whatâs going to happen that season,” and also added that while he doesn’t “know whatâs going to happen next season,” he does know that they, “go back in October, so maybe in the next few weeks, we’ll get the scripts.” He’s also, naturally, “very curious” to find out how the story ends given that he “knew what was going to happen for the first three seasons. After that, it’s been a season at a time.”
So why does this hint to an even later start date than we got this year? Because the first five seasons of the show shot in the summerâJuly through December, roughly. This past season, however, they pushed their shoot start date to the end of August in order for it to look at bit more wintery in some of its locales, which is what pushed Thrones from its typical springtime premiere (in April) to July. With an even further push into October, it feels all but certain that the final season of Thrones will premiere in the fallâand if it does, lol/have fun, The Walking Dead because that’s going to be a ratings bloodbathâotherwise, look out winter 2019.
But it’s important to remember: this is just speculation at this point, and while the series is being pushed later, it is only a 6-episode season we’re waiting for, so it could end up premiering earlier if the episodes don’t all go super long or need a heavy amount of CGI. Considering the dragons and army of dead people, though, it feels safe to say there will be even MORE of that in the final season. Either way, the wait for winter’s conclusion feels a mighty ways away for those of us waiting for a dream of spring.
What do you think of the news? Let us know in the comments below.
Images and GIFs: HBO
Alicia Lutes is the Managing Editor, creator/co-host of Fangirling, and resident Khaleesi of House Nerdist. Find her on Twitter but only if you really want because, likeâI’m not your boss.