Game of Thrones only just wrapped up its seventh season over the weekend, yet we're already getting signals that fans are in for a long wait for the show to return.
The ambitious nature of the Emmy Award-winning fantasy series famously delayed its season seven launch from spring to summer this year — and season eight might be more of the same.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO and producers are mulling over a plan to begin production on Game of Thrones' final run in October and carry on all the way until August 2018. This could potentially delay episodes airing until 2019, as previously reported.
HBO is neither confirming nor denying expanding Game of Thrones' production beyond its traditional four or five months, but programming boss Casey Bloys is acknowledging that David Benioff and D. B. Weiss's vision is far more "complicated" than in prior years.
"Our production people are trying to figure out a timeline for the shoot and how much time the special effects take," Bloys has said.
"The shooting is complicated enough — on different continents, with all the technical aspects — and the special effects are a whole other production period that we're trying to figure out. That is a big factor in all of this."
What to Read Next
What may ultimately come to pass is a schedule like the one used for fellow HBO prestige drama Westworld, which is averaging two years between seasons in order to keep up its ambitious standards.
"As shows get bigger and more complicated, I have to follow the producers' lead and let go of, 'It'd be nice to have it every year,'" Bloys conceded.
"They have to do the best show they can do. With bigger shows like Westworld or Game of Thrones, sometimes if you want the big show and the big scope, it takes longer."
To keep fans entertained until Game of Thrones' final season does air, HBO is launching new spin-off programming like The Game Revealed — a six-part documentary series bringing fans behind the scenes. Watch the first episode below:
HBO is also working on four potential Game of Thrones prequel series, although none are expected to air until the main show finishes up its run either next year or in 2019.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.
Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
