‘Game of Thrones’ To Run For At Least Eight Seasons – And THAT Person Is Really Dead [Spoilers]

WARNING: Spoilers abound in this article. If you have not watched up to (and including) the season 5 finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones, please proceed with caution.

HBO’s programming president, Michael Lombardo, has just confirmed to the Television Critics Association’s press tour on Thursday that Game of Thrones will run for eight seasons and potentially longer. Plus, he reiterated the permanency of the death of a fan favorite character who saw his life hanging in the balance in the season 5 finale.

“Seven-seasons-and-out has never been the [internal] conversation. The question is: How much beyond seven are we going to do? Obviously we’re shooting six now, hopefully discussing seven. [Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss are] feel like there’s two more years after six. I would always love for them to change their minds, but that’s what we’re looking at right now.”

Entertainment Weekly have also reported there is the potential for a Game of Thrones prequel, considering the rich history and background George R.R. Martin has developed with his Game of Thrones book series. “There’s enormous storytelling to be mined in a prequel, if George and Dan and David decide they want to tackle that. At this point, all the focus is on the next few years of the show,” Lombardo had to say when the topic was raised but did point out the conversation has not been had yet, so any prequel seasons are not officially in the pipelines yet.

But what about that much talked about character who was stabbed in the season 5 finale of Game of Thrones? There are many theories on whether Jon Snow (played by Kit Harrington) is dead or alive, but when asked, Michael Lombardo had this to say on the matter:

“Dead is dead is dead. He be dead. Um, yes. Everything I’ve seen, heard and read, Jon Snow is indeed dead.”

While this makes Jon Snow’s fate fairly stitched up, many fans are already analyzing what he said and are suggesting this could very well lead to the theory on Jon Snow being a Targaryen being true. If Jon Snow is indeed dead, he could, potentially rise, unharmed, from the fires when his body is burned. Therefore, Jon Snow could really be dead right now, but not stay dead for long. Of course, there is still the other theory that Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) can also bring people back from the dead. So until season 6 of Game of Thrones arrives and Jon Snow remains dead, fans will still wonder, no matter what the cast and crew say about the matter.

Also announced was the fact season 5 of Game of Thrones would be released to home video next month, months earlier than is the usual release schedule.

What do you think about Game of Thrones running for at least eight seasons? Do you believe Jon Snow is really dead? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

[Image credit: HBO Inc.]