‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7: Everything We Know So Far (Photos)
The premiere date
With a “watching ice melt” fan event, HBO revealed “Game of Thrones” will return on Sunday, July 16.
The number of episodes
Unlike the 10-episode seasons of the past, Season 7 will consist of only seven episodes. And Season 8 – the final season – will have even less: Six episodes to end it all.
Ed Sheeran will make a cameo
It will probably be blink-and-you-miss it, but Taylor Swift’s BFF will make an appearance – and it was arranged as a surprise for superfan Maisie Williams during filming.
The new tagline
“Fear is for the winter” is a callback to Season 1, and certainly promises the season that’s been predicted to come to Westeros for seven years now.
The new cast members
Jim Broadbent is the biggest name to join Season 7, while Freddie Stroma’s role, Dickon Tarly, has been recast. Sam’s older brother will now be played by Tom Hopper.
Bigger dragons
“The dragons this year are the size of 747s,” director Matt Shankman told Entertainment Weekly. “Drogon is the biggest of the bunch — his flame is 30-feet in diameter!”
A long last meeting (spoilers!)
A paparazzi photo appears to show Jon Snow approaching Daenerys Targaryen, so unless it’s for a piece of promotional material – or a fake-out – the titular “song of ice and fire” is about to begin for real, at last.
The directors
Series vets Alan Taylor, Jeremy Podeswa and Mark Mylod are all returning to direct episodes, while Matt Shakman, best known for directing a plethora of episodes of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” is stepping behind the “GoT” cameras for the first time.
A fan-favorite returns?
Arya’s pal Gandry hasn’t been seen since Season 3, rowing off into the distance, but could he finally be returning? According to ever-reliable fan airport sightings, yes.
“Game of Thrones” Season 7 is imminent, and there’s still a lot we don’t know. But here’s a few things we do know…
Related stories from TheWrap:
Will Kelly Ripa Ever Pick a Co-Host to Replace Michael Strahan?
Ex-'Power Rangers' Actor Ricardo Medina Jr. Pleads Guilty to Killing His Roommate
Sean Spicer Schools White House Press Corps For 9 Straight Minutes