For "Game of Thrones" fans, who are still hoping to see Jon Snow in the next seasons to come, this news will break your heart. HBO's programming president, Michael Lombardo, has just confirmed that the crowd favorite is dead.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, on Thursday, Lombardo attended the Television Critics Association summer press, and the chief was very game to address the questions asked of him. Among the topics touched were his thoughts about the current season of "True Detective," which received heavy criticism in the past weeks, and, more importantly, the fate of Jon Snow.
In the last season, Snow was stabbed to death, but despite this, fans still wish that the hero will survive or be resurrected. The viewers are very much in love with Snow's character that they are not prepared missing him in the coming season of "Game of Thrones." However, it looks like that will be the case.
"Dead is dead is dead is dead. He be dead. Yes," Lombardo said when asked about Snow's future in the hit series. "Everything I've seen and heard and read, Jon Snow is indeed dead," Los Angeles Times quotes the chief of HBO programming.
This announcement may end the speculations that the actor is still part of the show because he signed a contract with the network up to season seven. Those who believe that Kit Harington is only present in the Belfast set to film for Snow's funeral may be right. However, there are cases before when the characters in "Game of Thrones" died, but are resurrected in one form or another, and, with this, viewers can still be hopeful that Snow is not leaving the battlefield yet.
On a more positive note, fans of the fantasy drama will surely be happy with another big revelation from Lombardo. He confirmed that "Game of Thrones" will run at least eight seasons. This is despite the frequent claims of the TV series' showrunners, David Benioff and Dan Weiss, that they are only interested in making seven seasons, according to Los Angeles Times.
"Seven-seasons-and-out has never been the conversation," Lombardo said during the press tour, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. "The question is how much beyond seven are we going to do."
Yes, Lombardo hinted that there will be two more after the six seasons. The chief of HBO's programming disclosed that he is open to Dan and David's plans, and everything depends on the showrunners' decision. He understands that it will need an extensive narrative for the prequels and added that he has not discussed this matter with them yet.
