Pleased with stellar ratings for its season 4 premiere on Sunday, HBO has renewed Game of Thrones for seasons 5 and 6.
“Game of Thrones is a phenomenon like no other,” noted Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming, during today’s announcement. “David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with their talented collaborators, continue to surpass themselves, and we look forward to more of their dazzling storytelling.”
6.6 million people tuned into the Game of Thrones season 4 premiere on Sunday night. That number went up to 8.2 million after replays were accounted for. The staggering number is a record for HBO and puts it in line with the pay channel’s previous record-setter The Sopranos.
Related: The ten best moments from the Game of Thrones season 4 premiere
HBO typically renews shows one season at a time, so today’s announcement shows significant confidence in the drama based on the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin.
Game of Thrones season 4, episode 2 titled “The Lion and the Rose” airs this Sunday at 9 p.m. eastern. According to the synopsis, “Tyrion lends Jaime a hand. Joffrey and Margaery host a breakfast. At Dragonstone, Stannis loses patience with Davos. Ramsay finds a purpose for his pet. North of the Wall, Bran sees where they must go.” While you wait, check out our recap of the premiere episode.
In interviews leading up to the season 4 premiere, Thrones show runners said that they can see the series running for up to eight seasons.
After the season 6 premiere in 2016, we could imagine HBO making an announcement of another two (final?) seasons.