Earlier this year it was reported that Game of Thrones season 8 may not air until 2019, thanks to the extensive production schedule for the hit HBO TV series. Now, Liam Cunningham, the actor who plays Ser Davos Seaworth has confirmed this report.
According to an interview with TV Guide, Cunningham revealed that the shooting schedule, which only lasts around six months and wraps in December, will be longer than ever before:
“[The episodes are] definitely going to be bigger and what I hear is longer. We’re filming right up until the summer. When you think about it, up until last season we’d have six months to do ten episodes, so we’re [doing] way more than that for six episodes. So that obviously will translate into longer episodes.”
This news comes after Game of Thrones is reportedly casting several speaking roles for the new and final season of the hit TV series. According to Project Casting, casting directors are now casting several new parts for the last season. These characters reportedly include:
- Mercenary, aged 35-50. This guy is “an authoritative, fit, cool and charismatic military type.” He needs to to be able to ride a horse and will appear in two episodes of season 8. Since there are only six episodes to go around this year, every one counts.
- Northern farmer, aged 25 – 35. This guy is a “straightforward honest man of simple tastes.” He’s just folk, y’all. He’ll shoot the week of November 17th.
- Sassy and attractive girl, aged 18 – 25. This is another small Northern role; this character will film the week of November 6 and play opposite leading cast members in a “memorable” scene.
- Northern sentry, aged 18 – 25. This is another role with scenes opposite leading cast members. HBO wants “a characterful young Northern actor with great timing.” He’ll shoot in the first week December.
- Sailor, aged 35- 50. “He’s a rough-and-ready sea-faring type with a weathered face and strong presence.” This character will film scenes the week of December 11. With Euron still in the mix, odds are he’s a member of the Ironborn.
- Guard #1 is a physically fit 20-something who’s good in a fight. He’ll be shooting the first week of December.
- Guard #2 is a tall, athletic 30-something. He’s professional, dependable and has one line opposite leading cast members. He’ll shoot on November 1 and 2 in Spain, which is notable because it lets us know that the production will return to Spain.
There is a lot to expect in the final season of Game of Thrones, especially if the show wants to live up to its huge fan base, excite and standards it has set over the past seven seasons.