Fans will be pained to know that although winter is here in Westeros, season eight is still some time away. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming series.
When will Game of Thrones season 8 start and how many episodes will there be?
Unfortunately for fans desperate to find out who takes the Iron Throne, we don't yet know the exact start date for Game of Thrones' final series.
However, it has been confirmed the much-anticipated show will not return until 2019.
Fans may face an even lengthier wait than first anticipated, as the show's visual effects supervisor, Joe Bauer, revealed that the show has missed the May 31 cut off for the 2019 Emmy Awards.
He said: "In two years we'll be eligible for the Season 8 work.
"We're going to be toiling away on season 8 until May of 2019, so it's eight or nine months away."
They began filming the latest series in October 2017.
We do know the final series will be the shortest in Game of Thrones' history with just six episodes, following on from the seven in season seven.
It seems very likely that each episode will be feature length but could range anywhere between 60-120 minutes in length.
Although the show may be coming to an end, the creator George R.R. Martin revealed he would have liked the show to continue for several more years.
“We could’ve gone 11, 12, 13 seasons," he told Variety. “David and Dan have been saying for like five seasons that seven seasons is all they would go. We got them to go to eight but not any more than that.
"There was a period like five years ago when they were saying seven seasons and I was saying 10 seasons and they won, they’re the ones actually working on it.”
Who will be in the Game of Thrones season 8 cast?
While the final cast for the series has not been revealed, all of the characters who survived season seven will be reprising their roles for the finale.
So, you will see Kit Harrington continuing as Jon Snow, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys and Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister.
Tyrion's siblings Cersei and Jamie will once more be portrayed by Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the final series.
Perhaps surprisingly, the three remaining Starks survived season seven – so you'll get another chance to see Maisie Williams as Arya, Sophie Turner as Sansa and Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran.
Similarly, Alfie Allen's character Theon Greyjoy is somehow still going strong, and his vicious uncle Euron will again be played by Pilou Asbæk.
However, Aidan Gillen's time on the show looks to be over, after Petyr Baelish's dramatic demise in the season seven finale.
The show has featured a host of guest actors and cameos, so don't be surprised if another high-profile star repeats Ed Sheeran's brief (and not entirely popular) season seven exploits.
One recurring guest star who should play a prominent part is Mark Gatiss – his character Tycho Nestoris has increased in importance as the show nears its conclusion.
Do we know any Game of Thrones season 8 spoilers?
The TV series overtook George RR Martin's novels long ago – so how the Game of Thrones will eventually pan out remains a secret.
Of course, this hasn't stopped fans speculating feverishly over who will eventually take the Iron Throne, along with just about everything else to do with the show.
What seems certain is that Jon Snow (or is that Aegon Targaryen?) will finally learn the truth of his parentage – which might make things awkward now that he's romped with Daenerys, his aunt.
We'll also presumably find out who the Night King really is (one popular theory is that it's none other than plucky child turned creepy sage Bran Stark).
Fans were quick to speculate on season 8 after a series of casting calls hinted at future plots.
According to Game Of Thrones fan site Watchers On The Wall, the show is looking for a mercenary character described as: “An authoritative, fit, cool and charismatic military type" and will need to be "able to ride a horse."
It's likely that the mercenary role could be linked to the evil Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbaek).
At the end of the last season, he was sent to go and retrieve the sellswords of the infamous Golden Company to fight for the plotting Cersei Lannister.
Following their tense goodbye at the end of season seven, it seems likely that the incestuous Lannister twins' fates will be entwined, despite Jamie seemingly leaving Cersei to join the war against the dead.
In the books, Cersei's murder is foretold by a witch and some believe that she subtly hints her killer will be Jaime Lannister.
And now that the White Walkers and their undead hordes have breached the wall, and have an ice dragon at their disposal, Jon, Daenerys and co will need all the help they can get.
It seems certain that only when that's done and dusted will we finally learn who take the Iron Throne – and wins the Game of Thrones.
Sam Tarley actor John Bradley revealed that Season 8 will be "monumental" and "high stakes" as he films the show's final 6 episodes.
In August 2018, HBO released the first teaser footage for Season 8, however it is only three seconds long.
You can watch the trailer below.
Will there be multiple endings filmed for season 8 of Game of Thrones?
Game Of Thrones bosses are preparing to film multiple endings for the cult fantasy drama’s big series finale to prevent key plot details leaking online.
The secrecy surrounding the series’ ending will be taken to a whole new level as season eight wraps.
Producers are even planning to keep cast members in the dark about which characters live or die.
Talking to Vulture, Sophie Turner who plays Sansa Stark revealed that they were also shooting fake scenes.
She said: "We shoot fake scenes. We got into costume in Croatia because we know the paparazzi lurk around there, so we would spend like half a day doing nothing."
Kit Harington admitted that he cried when he read the final script, and also revealed that there was a secret episode of the show that will never air.
He revealed: "They say, if I ever p**s them off too much, they'll release it on YouTube.
"Every now and then, they send me a screengrab, just as a threat."
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