The season 7 finale of Game of Thrones gave us a lot to think about—will Jon Snow and Daenerys realize they're related? Who will rule the Seven Kingdoms? How long will Cersei last with no more Lannisters by her side? But in one of the season's most breathtaking set pieces yet, we saw the Wall demolished by the Night King's wight dragon. Many of the Night's Watch and wildling fighters stationed there were likely lost in the dramatic carnage.
Or were they? One of the people we saw trying to flee the destruction was fan favorite Tormund Giantsbane. The bearded Brienne fan ran for his life as the Wall fell. Will he make it to the next season? Will he ever see his beloved warrior woman again? We asked actor Kristofer Hivju about the likelihood that Tormund is still alive—and just how long it takes to grow that beard.
Do you think Tormund is still alive? Do you know if you're going to be in the next season?
I don't know. I honestly don't know. Somehow, I don't believe it. Somehow, it looks like it's a fall you can't survive. But people have asked me if characters like Beric and Tormund die, why wouldn't they show that? And then, in another way, it's a horrible way to end a season, by killing two people and showing that death. So they kept it in the air. But still, I don't know! He may be dead.
It struck me as being a bit of a sad ending for him. I thought he might have wanted to die fighting, instead. How do you think Tormund would have wanted to die?
I don't think Tormund wanted to die! But he's a warrior, and every time you go into battle, you know what can happen. So I think he had thought he would die many times. But when a zombie dragon with a Night King upon it starts attacking you—it's a horrible way to go.
I'm sure many of the scenes you filmed as Tormund were physical. You're a competitive climber in real life, and I wondered whether being physically strong or being able to do stunts was part of the job description.
In the books Tormund is past fifty. I think Dave [Benioff] and Dan [Weiss] and George R.R. Martin wanted him to be a bit younger to be able to do all the stuff I've been doing. And it's something about the relationship with Jon as well—they have a camaraderie and they've become friends. Of course, you can become friends with someone who's older than you, but he's not a father figure, he's more like a buddy.
There have been some huge physical challenges. It started off with climbing the wall, which I did an enormous lots of research preparing for—I did lot of ice climbing, Norway is great for it—because we had to climb it for real. And, of course, we had a lot of battles. So it's been...I'm a good sword fighter now. I will say that.
I want to talk about your beard. A photo you posted recently where you're clean-shaven went viral, because everyone was so surprised to see you without it on. How long did it take to grow? And did you have it when you auditioned?
I didn't have it when I auditioned—I had a small one, just some stubs. For some reason, the shoot was delayed. The hair department had created a beard for me, but when I came to set, it was full grown and red and ready to go. This is four months and 17 days of beard. Yes, I'm a fast grower. [Laughs]
Do you have any beard care tips?
Um...no. That's the fantastic thing about having a beard. You don't have to do anything about it. I have a special wax that I use to shape it sometimes. But, you know, people talk about my beard, and I say, What's more natural, to take a razor blade and cut yourself in the face every day or just do nothing? [Laughs]
When Game of Thrones is over, will you be shaving it all off again, or will you hang on to it?
It depends on the part. If the right part comes along, I'll definitely take it off. And I'm looking for that part because it's cool to be able to change your appearance totally, and easier to go along on the streets. [Laughs]
As an actor, how do you face something like an ice dragon, which isn't real?
It's very easy, because for Tormund and for me it is very real. My imagination has been so filled up with all the dragon shots I've seen in the show. I've seen the Night King—I've had lunch with him in the green room. So I know how horrible he is. So actually, since we shot "Hardhome," where we had to face all these horrible creatures, it was an easy thing to do.
What are your predictions for next season?
I want to see people forgive each other and make love and be nice to each other and be able to figure it out. Without violence. [Cackles]
Do you think if Tormund is still alive, he will get a happy ending with Brienne?
Well, you know, in Tormund's mind they are already almost together. So what he perceives...it's very different from what other people thinks she is sending out. But the Freefolk, they have this thing that they have to hunt the women, to show that they are really willing to do everything. And she wasn't an easy girl for Tormund to catch up with. So it's maybe something—a cultural phenomenon. And maybe Brienne hasn't understood what kind of guy she has in front of her yet.
Who do you think will rule the Seven Kingdoms at the end?
I don't know. George R.R. Martin said somewhere that it's going to be a bittersweet ending, and maybe there's some higher criticism of the history of the world, how we are always fighting each other. And maybe he wants to show us a lesson: Make world peace.
