Game of Thrones and Westworld are skipping SDCC 2018 - and it might be because their new seasons have release dates

Something unprecedented is going to happen at SDCC 2018. For the first time ever, Game of Thrones won’t have a presence at the event, and neither will Westworld. To thicken the plot further, their reasonings for not being there make it seem very likely that Game of Thrones season 8 and Westworld season 3’s release dates are set in stone for post-SDCC 2019.

As reported by Deadline, HBO confirmed in a statement: “Due to production schedules and air dates for Game of Thrones and Westworld, these series will not be presented at San Diego Comic-Con this summer.”

SDCC takes place in July every year and, with neither of HBO’s premiere shows making an appearance, it only indicates one thing: Westworld season 3 and Game of Thrones season 8 aren’t ready for SDCC 2018, but, rather, SDCC 2019 because of their “air dates” - i.e. they’re both coming after next year’s Comic Con in July 2019.

Think about it. HBO wouldn’t straight-up avoid SDCC 2018 unless they a) Didn’t have footage ready or b) They felt it was redundant to talk about the same seasons two years in a row.

Heck, even if both of those shows don’t make it for at least another year, feel safe in the knowledge you’ve got plenty of new TV shows to pass the time until then.

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.