Game of Thrones has commandeered television lineups with its drama, suspense, and intense battles. Its reign, however, has reached the end, something HBO confirmed in front of the Television Critics Association.
The show’s creators, David Benioff and Dan Weiss, first made hints to UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra on July 5, 2016.
“Two more. The two seasons will be a bit shorter. We don’t have a definite, absolute count. But each season’s gonna be a little bit shorter, just cause each season takes longer and longer to shoot,” Benioff and Weiss said.
Production has yet to start for Game of Thrones’ seventh season because of weather, which usually takes place in early spring. The halt will disqualify the show from participation in the 2017 Emmys, but the two creators have the storyline series finale already in mind.
Although the show is based on A Song of Ice and Fire book series, Benioff and Weiss’ plot lines have exceeded the last novel “90 percent.” So the ending to their television series will be a mystery to all of us, including author George R. R. Martin, who is still writing his book series.
Casey Bloys, who heads HBO programming, spoke to media at the association’s press tour today [Saturday, July 30]. According to Entertainment Weekly, Bloys addressed what was said on UFC Unfiltered surrounding finales and spinoffs of the television drama at a Beverly Hills venue.
The eighth season will be Game of Thrones’ last, the HBO executive confirmed.
“Yes, [Benioff and Weiss] have a very specific plan about the number of seasons they want to do. Believe me, as the new [programming executive] coming in, if I could get them to do more. I would take 10 more seasons. But we take their lead on what they think they can do the best version of the show,” Bloys said.
He also took on spinoff rumors, explaining any additional series based on Game of Thrones are “possible, but not definite.” Nothing is in the works so far.
HBO wrapped up the sixth season of the hit series last month on June 26, 2016. The season, like the past five, ran 10 episodes and leaves the series at 60 episodes total. As Benioff and Weiss noted with UFC Unfiltered, the seventh and eighth seasons are shorter. Bloys said he is not 100 percent sure on how much shorter. Stay tuned for the air date of season seven.
