Game of Thrones returns to the Dark Hedges for Season 7, and actors return to Belfast

At the moment, the Game of Thrones production is busy on multiple fronts. While crew members are furiously preparing to shoot material in Spain, actors continue to film stuff in Northern Ireland. And they won’t be stopping any time soon. We’ve had reports of activity at Moneyglass (where the Winterfell set is located), at Magheramorne quarry (where the Castle Black set is located), and elsewhere.

And now, it looks like the production may return to a memorable location it hasn’t used in a while: the Dark Hedges, a Northern Irish landmark that stood in for the Kingsroad in Season 2. You may remember Arya and Gendry passing through during their exodus from King’s Landing.

Basically, the Dark Hedges is a tunnel of trees, most of them planted in the eighteenth century. The photographic possibilities of such a place are many.

Suspicions were raised after people spotted road closure signs near the landmark.

Now, usually, the Game of Thrones production marks where it’s going to be filming with telltale pink signs. The red one above may have nothing to do with the show. But then Irish Thrones, a reliable outlet that yesterday broke news of filming activity near the town of Bangor, weighed in with its own confirmation.

We’ll be watching to see if any actors or cameras roll into the area over the next few days. If the production is indeed filming at the Dark Hedges, it’ll likely stand in for the Kingsroad again.* Perhaps covered in frost this time?

Meanwhile, cast members have been popping up in the expected places. For example, here’s Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) in Belfast.

And one fan got photos with both Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger)…

…and Sophie Turner (Sansa).

So Turner’s still blonde, huh? I suppose it’s all about the red wigs in Season 7.

Also, Watchers on the Wall reports that Kit Harington (Jon Snow, as if you didn’t know that) is back in Northern Ireland after what looks like some time in London. It looks like the crew is almost ready to shoot scenes at Moneyglass, so there could be some exterior Winterfell shots in his future.

*SPOILER ASTERISK: We note that the actor behind one of the characters involved in the last scene filmed at the Dark Hedges is returning for Season 7. Might he be involved in any new scenes, as well?