While it was thought the Game of Thrones final season would be airing some time during the first half of 2019, now it’s looking likely Season 8 will be somewhat delayed.
Rumors started flying about a possible April 2019 release date when Maisie Williams was said to have stated the first episode will air in April, but the actress has since denied she said the information.
Following that, the HBO programming chief also said the Game of Thrones final season will air the first half of 2019.
Game of Thrones Final Season
However, now visual effects supervisor Joe Bauer dropped a bombshell revealing that he will be still working on the series until at least May, which obviously means Game of Thrones Season 8 won’t air until at least probably June, if not July, which was when HBO premiered Season 7.
“In two years we’ll be eligible for the Season 8 work,” he told HP about about The Emmy’s, “which we’re just beginning now.”
The reason it’s figured Game of Thrones Season 8 won’t premiere until after May is because in order to be eligible for The Emmy’s, a majority of the episodes must run between June 1, 2018, and May 31, 2018. So by Bauer saying “in two years,” he means 2020, meaning the episodes will air too late in 2018 to be contenders for the 2019 awards.
Bauer did confirm they are going to be still working on the series as of May.
“We’re going to be toiling away on Season 8 until May of 2019, so it’s eight or nine months away,” he added. “But the prequel is starting to shoot in February, at least the pilot. So we’ll still have quite a lot to do on Season 8 when they’re beginning.”
The Game of Thrones final season has been said to be six episodes, with HBO programming chief Casey Bloys describing them as “epic” and that “fans are going to love it.”
“I think it’s a fitting way for one of the greatest shows in the history of television to go out and that people are going to be very happy,” Bloys said. “There’s going to be a lot of conversation.”
Game of Thrones prequel
Regarding the Game of Thrones prequel that was greenlit this past June, the official description states:
Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East, to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.
