HBO has just announced that Game of Thrones has been renewed…”for 2017.”
Interesting wording, and also interesting timing. Traditionally, HBO waits until the premiere of the show in question to announce that it has been renewed for the following season. During the first few years of Game of Thrones, this was like clockwork—around 3pm EST the Monday after the season premiere, the press release would drop that next season was a go. The only time this was done differently was after the debut of Season 4, when both Season 5 and 6 were greenlit. (This meant last year, there was no announcement the Monday after, since Season 6 was already confirmed.)
Not that we are complaining in the slightest—except that we assumed they would be announcing both Seasons 7 and 8, and here they’re not actually using those words at all. Instead it’s just “renewed for 2017,” in conjunction with both VEEP and Silicon Valley, which also are returning on Sunday. To wit:
"With all three shows set to return for new seasons on Sunday, April 24, HBO has renewed GAME OF THRONES, SILICON VALLEY and VEEP for 2017, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming.The Emmy®-winning GAME OF THRONES begins its ten-episode sixth season Sunday, April 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT). Based on the bestselling fantasy books by George R.R. Martin, the fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom. Series regulars this season include: Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Aidan Gillen, Diana Rigg, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams and Jonathan Pryce."
Note that, once again, that Kit Harington is not listed among the stars of the show anymore. HBO continues the total commitment to the claim that Jon Snow is dead. (Perhaps that’s why they had to post the release prior to the season premiere?)
As for how many episodes we will get in 2017, if this will be Season 7 Part 1, or Season 7, which will be only be six or seven episodes, no information is forthcoming at this time.