HBO scouting the Scottish Isle of Skye for the Game of Thrones prequel series

HBO is making a Game of Thrones prequel set during the Age of Heroes, set thousands of years before the series proper. The pilot could start filming at Titanic Studios in Belfast as early as October. Now, The Sunday Herald reports that the network is scouting outdoor filming locations on the scenic Isle of Skye in Scotland:

Game of Thrones has filmed in Scotland once before, for the pilot episode, when the Castle of Doune stood in for Winterfell. Should the Island of Skye lure HBO back to Scotland, it could be a big win for the region’s economy. In 2016 alone, 2.1 million tourists made their way to Northern Ireland to visit famous filming locations like Magheramourne Quarry, which is where the Castle Black set is located.

“This would be a massive development for Skye,” a source at the Herald said. “Game Of Thrones had a huge impact on tourist numbers wherever it was filmed. The same will most likely apply to the prequel. Skye is definitely a potential venue for the The Long Night. The show is set 10,000 years before Game Of Thrones so the makers need new ideas and locations. Skye ticks a lot of boxes for them.”