‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 8: Brace Yourself, Only Six Episodes Are Coming To The Final Season


It has been known for some time now that the final two seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones would be shorter than the normal run of 10 episodes a season. But now HBO have confirmed fans will only get six episodes for the final season.

Ever since HBO made the announcement to Variety that Seasons 7 and 8 of Game of Thrones would be shorter than normal, fans have been lamenting the fact that there could be as little as 13 hours left of their favorite epic fantasy TV series. Initially, Game of Thrones‘ showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, suggested Season 7 would be longer, at seven episodes, and the final season would only contain six.

After that initial interview in April of last year, HBO declared the final seasons might be longer, with HBO Programming President Casey Bloys stating at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that he would be happy for the showrunners to take Game of Thrones to 10 seasons. Benioff and Weiss had a very specific plan for the show, though, and fans prepared themselves for the worst.

Now, Entertainment Weekly has broken the news that the final season — Season 8 — of Game of Thrones will definitely only run for six episodes. This means, while there was initially talk that Seasons 7 and 8 would run for up to 15 hours of television time, now it will only be 13 hours. So, even if you decide to sit out the real-time viewing of Game of Thrones and save it all up to binge on, you can actually watch it in one sitting.

[Image by Helen Sloan/HBO]

Even if Game of Thrones only has 13 hours left over the next two years, that still doesn’t mean it is the last fans will get to see of the Westeros universe. Currently, there are five series in development by HBO that will bet set in the Game of Thrones universe. However, not all of these shows are likely to see the light of our TV screens, according to George R. R. Martin.

“What we do have here is an order for four — now five — pilot scripts. How many pilots will be filmed, and how many series might come out of that, remains to be seen,” George R. R. Martin revealed recently.

However, it is certainly possible at least one of them will be developed fully if the desire by Casey Bloys to continue on with Game of Thrones is anything to go by.

[Image by Helen Sloan/HBO]

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have known for a long time now just where Game of Thrones is headed and exactly where it will end up. Now that the television series has gone beyond what the author, George R. R. Martin, has written, fans of the books are deciding whether or not to sit out the TV adaptation in order to avoid spoilers if and when the final books in the series is released. However, that could be a long, cold wait. Much longer than the winters of Westeros, that’s for sure. Currently, book fans have been waiting since 2011 for the second last book in the series, The Winds of Winter, to be completed. After that, George R. R. Martin plans for the A Song of Fire and Ice series the HBO series is based on to be finished with A Dream of Spring.

HBO is currently gearing up for the premiere of Season 7 of Game of Thrones. Initially, there were new images showing characters in scenes from the upcoming season. More recently, HBO released the new trailer for Season 7.

You can watch the official trailer for Season 7 of Game of Thrones below.

You can check out the breakdown of this Season 7 trailer via this previous Inquisitr article.

Are you looking forward to Season 7 of HBO’s Game of Thrones? Let us know by commenting below.

Season 7 of HBO’s Game of Thrones will premiere on July 16, 2017.

[Featured Image by Helen Sloan/HBO]

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