HBO President Michael Lombardo shared a couple of interesting tidbits about the future of Game of Thrones on Thursday.
Speaking during HBO’s panel at the Television Critics Association’s summer gathering, Lombardo addressed the hottest question on the internet: Is Game of Thrones’ lead character Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington, actually dead?
“Dead is dead is dead,” said Lombardo on the seemingly endless rumors. “Everything I’ve seen heard and read…yes [he’s dead].”
This comment will surely do nothing to stop the debate from continuing online. Remember, last week we shared some photos of Harington arriving back in Belfast — where Game of Thrones films — sporting his man-bun and allegedly refusing to take pictures with fans (so the big secret doesn’t get out?).
It’s not exactly a surprise that Lombardo would claim Jon Snow is dead. After all, that’s where his company left viewers hanging at the end of season 5, so why would he spoil future plot lines?
Elsewhere at his TCA presentation, Lombardo revealed that Game of Thrones show runners D. B. Weiss and David Benioff are currently planning eight seasons of their book-to-television series.
What happens when HBO’s most popular series comes to an end? Lombardo was also asked about the possibility of a Game of Thrones prequel or spinoff, to which he said he was “open” to the idea, but it would be up to Weiss, Benioff, and author George R.R. Martin.
It would be in HBO’s best interest to keep Game of Thrones around long after Martin’s story comes to a conclusion in the books and on television. The series is HBO’s most successful in its history, and its popularity only seems to be growing. We imagine the series will enjoy another boost in popularity whenever Martin finishes Winds of Winter.
Does Lombardo’s opinion on Jon Snow sway your thinking at all?
Must-read: 5 burning questions from the Game of Thrones season 5 finale
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