Season 8 filming: Shooting begins on the Winterfell set
By Dan Selcke
HBO has been shooting material for the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones for a while, but we haven’t seen a lot of actual filming, at least not on the outdoor sets. But now, @alinaastark has photographic proof that the production has come to one of the show’s most iconic locations.
Filming currently in Moneyglass (Winterfell Set). A lot of extras on site. a lot of trucks and Cars going in and out. @WiCnet @WatchersOTWall
— Alina (@alinaastark) November 24, 2017
Shooting in moneyglass today @WatchersOTWall @WiCnet pic.twitter.com/vjmR1ODl3H
— Alina (@alinaastark) November 24, 2017
Yes, the production is abuzz at Moneyglass, where its retooled the Winterfell set, adding on battlements and walls. Zoom in on Alina’s images, and you can see lights aglow, and supply trucks aplenty. Things are happening.
As for what’s being filmed there, it’s anyone’s guess. Although some shooting at nearby Toome may provide some clues.
Elsewhere in the North (and beyond), the production has cleared the set that stood in for the frozen lake where Viserys died last year:
The frozen lake set at Wolf Hill is now completely empty. Except a lot of fake ice and snow ❄️ @WiCnet @WatchersOTWall @IrishThrones pic.twitter.com/YZ80LUtERp
— Alina (@alinaastark) November 25, 2017
Nearby, the gigantic mystery set being built on a lot near Titanic Studios in Belfast is getting even bigger, although it’s still unclear what it’s going to stand in for when it’s finally finished.
The new set at Titanic Studios getting bigger and bigger. Maybe King‘s Landing? @WatchersOTWall @WiCnet pic.twitter.com/wkZfc38ZeD
— Alina (@alinaastark) November 24, 2017
Alina thinks we’re looking at King’s Landing, and given the scope of it all, that seems like a good bet.
And finally, Irish Thrones has a scoop on some minor activity happening near Linen Mill Studios at Corbet-Banbridge, where the show has filmed, among other things, scenes at Riverrun.
Small Irish #Gameofthrones S8 news. Filming largely confined to Moneyglass this wk (Winterfell), near Toome. Linenmill studios @ Corbet, near Banbridge-quiet, what's notable however is the removal of the Drawbridge of Riverrun castle, we suspect this could be used on other sets.
— Irish Thrones (@IrishThrones) November 25, 2017
(2/2)... The Drawbridge at the same time could easily return and the design was originally rather elaborate. At the studios is also the inclusion of extra green screen within this #GameOfThrones multi-set, which is also rather high.
— Irish Thrones (@IrishThrones) November 25, 2017
So the Winterfell drawbridge has come down. But as Irish Thrones notes, there’s no guarantee it won’t be back. The Riverrun set is an interesting case, since it stood all through the filming of season 7 even though it wasn’t used. If it wasn’t coming back, wouldn’t they have dismantled it earlier?
More as it breaks. Thanks to @alinaastark for all the pics!
Next: Season 8 filming: The Unsullied prepare for battle, and closer looks at the sets
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