If you were dismayed to discover the seventh season of Game of Thrones will have only seven episodes instead of the usual 10, there's still hope for the eighth season, according to a new Entertainment Weekly interview.

Though it was previously thought that the next season of Game of Thrones would have seven episodes with the final eighth season clocking in six, HBO's programming president Casey Bloys explained that the episode count for the eighth season is still up in the air:

"[The showrunners] are still figuring out the shape of the season, what they want to do. I'll take as many as they want to do. If they give me eight, I'll want 10. But it's really up to them. They'll let me know."

In addition, Bloys noted that HBO is discussing a possible prequel series:

"It's such a big property we would be foolish not to explore it, but it's a pretty high bar. We'll take some shots at it. I'm not going to do it just to do it. It has to feel very special."

It's hard to imagine George R. R. Martin's fantasy world not being "special" enough, so it kind of seems like it's in the bag—but hey, guess only time will tell. Winter is coming.

[H/T Entertainment Weekly]

From: Esquire US