HBO programming president Michael Lombardo says there has never been a fixed plan to end the show after 7 seasons and is open to idea of a possible prequel.
- July 31, 2015
AceShowbiz -
The length of "Game of Thrones" run once again became a topic of discussion when HBO took the stage at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Beverly Hills on Thursday, July 30. Speaking in front of critics and reporters, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo hinted that the network wanted at least two more seasons after the upcoming season 6.
"Seven seasons and out has never been the conversation. The question is how much beyond the seventh season we're going to do," he said. "[Executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss] feel like there's two more years after six. I would always love for them to change their minds."
Whether it's possible to keep the franchise going with a prequel, Lombardo said, "I would be open to anything Dan and David want to do. It really would depend fully on what they want to do.... There's enormous storytelling to be mined in a prequel. We haven't had any conversations."
Responding to ongoing speculations about Jon Snow's fate, Lombardo insisted, "Dead is dead is dead is dead. He be dead. Yes. Everything I've seen and heard and read, Jon Snow is indeed dead."
Lombardo also addressed complaints about the degree of violence on the hit series. "I certainly have seen some articles, particularly with respect to Sansa," he said. "This show has had violence as part of one of its many threads from the first episode. ... I think there are no two showrunners who are more careful about not overstepping what they think the line is - and everyone has their own line, I understand - but doing things that are critical for the storytelling and I support them fully artistically."
