Game of Thrones returns to the small screen this summer for the penultimate season, and fans are looking forward to all kinds of major developments as the show gears up for the final fight. Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) is finally returning to Westeros to claim the throne, and she's not to the only one coming home. Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is also returning as the Hand of the Queen, Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) is back as a ruthless assassin, and her brother Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is back in the North with some newfound abilities of his own. Everything is coming together, as the survivors prepare for their final battles; for the Iron Throne, and to save Westeros from the White Walkers.

While the trailers for the season have so far put most of the focus on Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen, the third biggest player is the one currently sitting on the Iron Throne: Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey). Impressively, she's actually managed to stay in power since day one, despite her stay in the 'care' of the Faith Militant and her walk of shame in season 5. Now, the Evil Queen is back in the Keep, and following the death of her last child has crowned herself the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Fans are waiting to see if she survives season 7, but her death isn't the only major Cersei-related-event on the table. This season might also bring a throwdown that fans have been speculating about almost since the beginning: Cleganebowl.

What Is Cleganebowl?

The Hound standing atop a hill in Game of Thrones

Cleganebowl is the name coined by fans of the series to describe a probable future showdown between two of the most brutal fighters in the show: The Hound and The Mountain. The Hound is Sandor Clegane (Rory McCann), while The Mountain is Gregor Clegane (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson). The two are brothers, but they are far from close. In fact, it was the Mountain who burned the Hound's face when the two were children, and there is no love lost between these two.

Given their history and their reputations as ruthless killers, fans have long expected to see a final fight scene between these two - one which would likely prove the end for at least one brother, and which would just be absolutely incredible to watch. These two may be heartless, but they are a lot of fun to see fighting. Who can forget the shocking moment when the Mountain burst a man's skull with his bare hands? Or when the Hound slaughtered the members of the Brotherhood Without Banners, telling one them that he was "sh*t at dying"? Seeing these two fight each other could be one of the biggest throw-downs of the series, so fans have been speculating how it could happen for a long time.

Originally, the Cleganebowl theory posited that Cersei would be brought to trial for her crimes (killing her husband, sleeping with her brother, seducing her guards, generally being evil), and that she would then demand a trial by combat. The Mountain would be her champion (as he was in a previous trial by combat), and he would go up against the Hound as the champion of the opposition. Cue massively entertaining battle.

Where Are The Cleganes Now?

Game of Thrones - The Mountain after resurrection

At times, Cleganebowl has seemed imminent, but by the end of season 6 these two brothers are moving further away from each other than ever.

The Mountain: The Mountain was very nearly killed in season 4, when he battled Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal), who stabbed him with a poisoned spear. He would have died, had Cersei not turned him over to Qyburn (Anton Lesser), who took his massive body deep into the castle to perform all kinds of experiments on it. Now, he has returned - named Robert Strong in the books, but simply recognized as the resurrected Mountain in the series. FrankenMountain was brought back to a kind of life by Qyburn, and installed as a member of the Kingsguard who has taken a vow of silence. It's still not entirely clear exactly what Qyburn did to him, but from the looks of the dead skin and red eyes seen under his golden helm, FrankenMountain has gone through some stuff... and based on the Septa's screams, he's as vicious as ever.

The Hound: It looked like the Hound had met his end in season 4 as well, but like his brother, he pulled through. He was left broken and bleeding by Arya, who chose not to give him a merciful death, but was rescued by Septon Ray (Ian McShane) and nursed back to health. From there, he joined the Septon's flock, and was happily staying out of the war of the Seven Kingdoms until three rogue members of the Brotherhood Without Banners made the mistake of killing his friends. Enraged, Sandor hunted them down and slaughtered them, during which he bumped into Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer). At the end of the season, the Hound had agreed to join Beric and the Brotherhood, heading North to fight the White Walkers.

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Lena Heady as Queen Cersei on Game of Thrones

The New Theory: The Hound's Return & Cersei's Revenge

The original theory, that the Hound and FrankenMountain would face off in a trial by combat, was spectacularly blown out of the water in season 6 thanks to Cersei. After Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) outlaws trial by combat at the urging of the High Spaarrow, Cersei decides not to attend her trial at all - instead, she blows up the Sept of Baelor with wildfire, killing her opponents, the High Sparrow, and the Faith Militant, and effectively dealing with anyone who would choose to bring her to justice in future.

This doesn't meant that Cleganebowl is off the table, however. Fans have come up with a new theory as to how these two titans will meet in battle, and Cersei is still at the center of it. In the trailer for Game of Thrones season 7, there are two relevant moments. One shows the Hound in the snow, with Beric, and the other shows a man that could be him raising a sword in the bright sun of somewhere that is presumably Kings Landing. From this, and from the trailer's voiceover that puts an emphasis on the houses' need to band together against a common enemy, the new theory suggests that the Hound is going to return to Kings Landing after his trip North. Presumably, he (and the Brotherhood) are bringing some kind of proof of the White Walkers with them, in an attempt to convince Cersei to stop fighting for the Throne, and start fighting for survival. This may even be a captured Walker, although there's nothing to say exactly what the Hound will bring with him to try and win Cersei to the greater cause.

Of course, if the Hound does return to Kings Landing, he won't receive a warm welcome there. Although he used to be in the Queen's good graces, he abandoned his post as Joffrey's bodyguard during the Battle of the Blackwater, eloquently declaring "f**k the King" before deserting. Cersei, for all her faults, loved her children desperately, and this betrayal is not going to go down well with her. As a result, when the Hound returns, Cersei is either going to put him to trial (up against the Mountain in a trial by combat), or simply sic her faithful FrankenMountain on his brother without any pretense at all.

Will The Hound Kill Cersei?

Young Cersei hears the prophecy in Game of Thrones

Another Cleganebowl possibility is that the Hound's battle with the Mountain will end with him killing Cersei - and fulfilling a prophecy that has been the source of speculation since it was first revealed. The prophecy was told to a young Cersei by a seer, and at this point in the game, most of it has come to pass.

Maggy: Aye. Queen you shall be... until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all that you hold dear.

Cersei: Will the king and I have children?

Maggy: Oh, aye. Six-and-ten for him, and three for you. Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds. And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.

She has been Queen, and her husband had a string of bastard children. She had three children, with her brother, and all have been crowned (Myrcella as a princess, not a Queen) and died. Leaving only one thing left - for the 'valonqar' to kill her. Valonqar means 'little brother', leaving many to assume that either Jaime or Tyrion would be the one to kill her, being her own younger brothers. However, the Hound is the younger Clegane brother, meaning that he could also win over the Mountain and murder Cersei for her crimes, fulfilling the prophecy's end.

Cleganebowl: If And When

Mystery Man Game of Thrones Season 7 Trailer

Of course, this is all still very much in the realms of theory, as Cleganebowl has never been officially confirmed or denied by anyone involved in the production. It's also possible that the man with a sword in the sun is not the Hound, or is even possibly not in Kings Landing. However, it is likely that there will be an eventual showdown between these two warrior brothers, and if it does happen, it'll probably be at the end of this season.

Cleganebowl isn't going to happen in the early episodes because it's clear that the Hound is going to be in the North, and potentially even North of the Wall. It's what he set out to do at the end of season 6, and it's been shown in the trailer (with the shots of the Hound in the snow). However, it's likely that he will return to Kings Landing, and to his long-awaited fight with his brother, at some point this season, ahead of season 8's massive battle of human (and dragon) against the White Walkers.

Next: 15 Frustrating Ways Game Of Thrones Could End