Game of Thrones season 9 may be something fans of the HBO high fantasy series want to see after the big season 8 finale, but unfortunately it'll never happen. Season 8 is the show's final season, but that doesn't mean fans' time in Westeros is over.

The immensely popular HBO series based on the A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R.R. Martin is concluding the story of Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) Aria Stark (Masie Williams), Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), and the other inhabitants of Westeros as they face off against the White Walkers and each other in the battle for the Iron Throne.

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While that particular story ends with season 8, a number spinoffs are in the work, mostly focusing on events that happened long before Robert's Rebellion and the series of events leading to the conflict told in Game of Thrones.

There Won't Be A Game of Thrones Season 9

Drogon roars in Game of Thrones

There are currently no plans to continue Game of Thrones for season 9, and there likely never will be. Season 8 is the final season of Game of Thrones and it will consist of just six episodes. Along with season 8 being the final season, HBO is adamant there will never be a season 9. Recent seasons of Game of Thrones have begun winding the story down as the intensity, drama, and action ramp up. Come the season 8 finale, Game of Thrones' epic story should be well and truly finished.

A sequel of sorts remains a possibility, though nothing official has ever been said on the matter. HBO does have plans for at least one and possibly more spinoff series, so while season 8 is the end for Game of Thrones, it won't be the final story HBO tells about Westeros.

There Are Still Game of Thrones Books Still To Come

Winds of Winter George R R Martin

The adaptation of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has been most unusual. When Game of Thrones first aired in 2011, only four of the planned seven books in Martin's series were published. The fifth book, A Dance With Dragons, released later that year. Since then, fans have been doing their best to remain patient while awaiting any news on the release of the sixth book, The Winds of Winter, and the seventh, A Dream of Spring. But with the wait now in its seventh year and no news on a release date, some fans are understandably disgruntled.

In the meantime, Game of Thrones has soldiered on, with its more recent seasons outpacing the story of the books and the television show on target to complete the tale before Martin can finish and release his next novel. And while it's frustrating for those who wish to read the novels first and watch the television show second, the delay in release does allow Martin the opportunity to choose how to best finish his epic saga. Both A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones will have similar endings, but the journey to that endpoint will be quite different. This means that even after the series finale for Game of Thrones, there will eventually be an alternate version - and in the eyes of some fans, a truer version - of just how this song of ice and fire plays out. But since the show was conceived with Martin, it's unlikely his books will deviate to there's enough material for a season 9.

Read More: How Will Game Of Thrones End In The Books?

Game of Thrones Has A Spinoff In Development

Night King and Children of the Forest in Game of Thrones

In the wake of Game of Thrones' massive success, HBO took the obvious route and began pursuing spinoffs. The most developed of these spinoffs currently has the working title The Long Night, and a pilot was ordered based on writer Jane Goldman's (Kingsman: The Secret Service) pitch, who then co-wrote the script with Martin. The Long Night isn't strictly a prequel or sequel to Game of Thrones, but it will be set prior to the events of Game of Thrones, taking place thousands of years earlier during the mythical Age of Heroes.

The Long Night will start filming in early summer 2019, with Naomi Watts and Josh Whitehouse as the female and male leads. Other cast members include Naomi Ackie, Denise Gough, Miranda Richardson, Jamie Campbell Bower, Sheila Atim, Ivanno Jeremiah, Georgie Henley, Alex Sharp, and Toby Regbo. The pilot will be directed by SJ Clarkson (Jessica Jones).

Related: Game of Thrones Theory: The Long Night Will Tell Azor Ahai's Story

Details On The Other Game of Thrones Spinoffs

In addition to Goldman's spinoff pitch, there were originally four other spinoff pitches in development from writers Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island), Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential), Carly Wray (Westworld) and Bryan Cogman (Game of Thrones). As of summer 2018, HBO had "shelved" one while the other three remain in active development. George R.R. Martin is involved in this development process, but current Game of Thrones executive producers, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are not. Benioff and Weiss shepherded the series through its 8 season run, but with no plans for a season 9, they're moving on.

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