HBO’s record-setting Game of Thrones was renewed for a fifth and sixth season last year, leaving fans to speculate how long the show will continue on for. Having caught up with the books in as much time as it takes G.R.R Martin to write one, it’s become fairly apparent from season 5 that the TV show is forging its own way ahead.
During the Television Critics Association Press Tour, the programming president of HBO, Michael Lombardo, allayed some anxieties about the future of their iconic show. He confirmed that Game of Thrones will run for at least seven (possibly eight if HBO get their way) seasons of Game of Thrones.
“Seven seasons and out has never been the conversation,” Says Lombardo. “The question is how much beyond seven are we going to do. (Showrunners) David Benioff and Dan Weiss are feeling like there’s two more years after six. I would always love for them to change their minds. That’s what we’re looking at right now.”
It seems to be a case of how much more Benioff and Weiss can create on the screen before they call it a day. Lombardo went on to address the possibility of spin-off shows and other content, going to say that he would “be open to anything Dan and David want to do. It really would depend fully on what they want to do. I think you’re right—there’s enormous storytelling to be mined in a prequel. But we haven’t had any conversations.”
Lombardo also made clear his strong support for the showrunner’s creative choices. In regards to the episode ‘Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken’, which left many fans divided and furious over the treatment of female characters in the show and lead to sites like The Mary Sue and even Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill abandoning the show, Lombardo asserted, “I certainly have seen some articles with respect to Sansa, but from the beginning of this show, we saw a 7-year-old boy pushed from a tower,” Lombardo said. “There are no two show runners who are more careful about not stepping over what they think the line is. I support them fully artistically.” Which seems shorthand for “It’s Game of Thrones“.
And of course, a certain question about a certain Lord of Castle Black was asked, which Lombardo responded to with (missing a golden opportunity to say he knew nothing about Jon Snow) “Dead is dead is dead. He be dead. Jon Snow is dead.” Which I’m sure they do believe, but I doubt Lady Melisandre does.
To wrap it all together, HBO wants at least seven seasons (definitely a lot more) and are entertaining the idea of spin-offs akin to Fear The Walking Dead. It’s hard to blame them, having twenty million viewers on the edge of their seat every Sunday night for thirteen weeks is a tempting thing to hold on to!
What do you think? Would you be happy with upwards of seven seasons of Game of Thrones? Are you tired of Westeros and waiting for the show to finish out? Or just refreshing Martin‘s blog everyday hoping for the Winds of Winter to show up? Let us know below!
