The world of Game of Thrones is so big that it could probably go on forever, and who wouldn’t want it to?
But like every good show, GoT has to end sometime, and creators seem to think it would be best to go out on top.
Apparently, HBO and the series’ showrunners, D.D. Weiss and David Benioff, are considering wrapping things up within the next few seasons.
Entertainment Weekly reports that there may only be two more seasons in the works following Season 6, and the plan being considered is for Season 7 to only have seven episodes, and Season 8 to have only six episodes. Up until now, each season has had 10 episodes.
But Benioff told EW that they had always planned for the entire series to run 73 hours in total – and that the idea hasn’t changed.
HBO has released a statement saying this is all just speculative, though, and that plans to move forward with Season 7 haven’t even be made yet, never mind plans to end the show. But still, the showrunners seem pretty sure about going out on top.
Benioff said: “We wanted to end while we’re still ambulatory and going strong. We love the show too much.”
Keep in mind, though, that nothing has been officially decided – the discussion has been going on for quite a while and it may continue well into next year. When the decision is eventually made, they may agree to entirely different numbers.
HBO’s entertainment president Michael Lombardo said:
In every conversation, that’s been [the showrunners’] thinking. It will be interesting to see how strongly they feel about being definitive about that when we are in a position to announce seasons 7 and 8.
[Ending Thrones] will be a tough one for me – partly as an executive and partly as a fan. A show that resonates this way and works on all levels, it’s painful to imagine it ending.
At the same time, David and Dan have a big responsibility and I respect that enormously. If we just keep going then we’re doing what the [broadcast] networks have done – and nobody wants to do that.
If GoT does decide to end its production, wouldn’t it show artistic integrity and respect for the show over the series’ financial gain? Maybe it is best to go out on top, as much as it pains me to say it.
But the best thing to do right now is not to worry and just enjoy Season 6 – which promises to be the most brutal one yet.
