Just saying the words "Game of Thrones" in the right crowd can start a riot of excitement. HBO's epic fantasy drama is by far the most popular television show in the world. No other show comes close to competing with the number of viewers worldwide, or the number of awards and nominations earned by Game of Thrones. Fans of the series were left without even a single new episode this year, for the first time since the show premiered in 2011. HBO has decided to make their fans wait over a year for the final season of Game of Thrones, but I'm not complaining. The sooner the show's eighth season begins, the sooner the show ends forever. So it's well worth the wait.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO programming president Casey Bloys spoke at the Television Critics Association press tour this week and revealed that the new season would be coming in the first half of 2019. He had little else to say about the final season other than, "It's pretty great." Fans already expected the final season to premiere in the Spring, so Bloys statements do not come as a surprise. Bloys also commented on the upcoming Game of Thrones spin-off show. "We're just starting the search for director [and] casting director," Bloys stated, adding that it will begin "shooting sometime in the new year."