Game of Thrones season 8's final six episodes start filming in September

Game of Thrones season 7 returns to our screens this year, but that hasn’t stopped people – including actor Liam Cunningham (Davos) – looking ahead towards the final, super-short, season.

Speaking to Dubai One (via NME), Cunningham seems to confirm the shorter seven episodes for season 7, before dropping a Mountain-sized bombshell by revealing that the final season will only include six episodes, stating: “That’s seven episodes and then we start [filming] again in September and there’s a final six.”

Cunningham also outlined the mammoth task surrounding the upcoming season of the show, as well as Game of Thrones’ overall future as it hits the home stretch, saying, “I think [Game of Thrones season 7 is] going to be extraordinary. We’re still filming – we don’t finish until the end of next month.”

A September start date hints at either an even longer production schedule to pack everything into the miniature final season (which is likely) or HBO choosing to air Game of Thrones earlier in 2018, rather than match 2017’s summer air date.

Game of Thrones season 7 will air on HBO in the summer.

Image: HBO

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.