Game of Thrones fans don't have to say goodbye to the show quite yet: members of the cast will reunite for one last panel at next month's San Diego Comic-Con. The series, which aired its last episode in May, was, and still is, a massive pop culture phenomenon. 19.3 million people watched the series finale across all of HBO's platforms, an almost unheard of number these days. The series also jump started the careers of several actors and actresses, including Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, and Gwendoline Christie. Others virtually grew up on the show, like Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner, and have gone on to star in popular film franchises. Christie plays Captain Phasma in the Star Wars films, while Turner starred in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, which was released this past weekend.
The popularity of Game of Thrones has also led to an upcoming spinoff series, which will serve as a prequel to the original show. The prequel, which has the working title Bloodmoon, takes place thousands of years before Game of Thrones. The time period is a rich one in Game of Thrones canon and includes The Long Night, also the show's unofficial title. The series begins production this month, though an air date isn't expected for another couple of years. Naomi Watts, John Simm, Miranda Richardson, and Jamie Campbell Bower are all set to star.
Per Deadline, a final Hall H appearance for the show is nearly certain, as final talks are occurring now. There's no news yet on specific cast members who may appear, though George R. R. Martin is expected to show up in some way. Martin, of course, wrote the series A Song of Ice and Fire, which served as the basis for Game of Thrones. It's also possible that Jon Snow himself, Kit Harington, will be there, despite currently receiving treatment at a Connecticut health facility. Harington is said to be nearing the end of his treatment, which may allow him to attend. Meanwhile, showrunners David Benioff and D.B Weiss aren't expected to appear, and it's unknown at this time if the show will also have a presence at New York Comic-Con.
Hall H panels are reserved for hugely popular shows and film franchises, as the biggest hall at SDCC. However, there's more room this time than there usually is, as Warner Bros. is reportedly sitting this year out. Though the DC films won't have a big presence, it's likely that competitor Marvel will have a panel. The next phase of the MCU is set to be announced this summer, and Marvel has used Comic-Con to announce big news before, like many shows and movies do. Though the next phase is largely a mystery, we do know that it'll include the highly anticipated Black Widow film.
Even with Game of Thrones now over, fans would definitely turn up for a victory lap at SDCC. Reactions to the final season were mixed, but the show has been wildly popular and often beloved since it premiered almost a decade ago. Plus, one thing that didn't change in the final season is how much fans love the cast and characters. The actors and actresses are proud of the show as well, and would likely enjoy coming back to celebrate it one last time.
Source: Deadline