Game of Thrones Ending Confirmed?

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the two showrunners of HBO’s monstrous hit Game of Thrones, have repeatedly expressed their desire to end its epic story after eight seasons, and an executive from the channel seems to have confirmed that the show will not run beyond its eighth year.

During the Television Critics Association’s press tour in Beverly Hills, Entertainment Weekly asked Casey Bloys, Programming President for HBO, if the channel intends to end the hit show after eight seasons, as is desired by Benioff and Weiss. Bloys replied:

“Yes, they have a very specific plan about the number of seasons they want to do. Believe me, as the new [programming executive] coming in, if I could get them to do more. I would take 10 more seasons. But we take their lead on what they think they can do the best version of the show.”

Bloys did, however, concede that talks have taken place between Benioff, Weiss, and HBO regarding potential Game of Thrones spin-off shows:

“We’ve talked about it. It’s something I’m not opposed to, but of course it has to make sense creatively. I’m not sure that [Benioff and Weiss] could really wrap their heads around it when they’re just about to start production [on season 7]. It’s a pretty intense production, they’re about to start production soon. I’m open to it. The guys weren’t opposed to it, but there’s no concrete plans for it at this point.” 

After these comments surfaced, though, HBO was quick to dispel the idea that Bloys had confirmed that season eight would be the final year for Game of Thrones, despite his inference that it would happen.

An HBO spokesperson told BuzzFeed:

“Casey [Bloys] did confirm Season 8, but didn’t really say for sure that’s the end.”

That statement suggests that HBO is still trying to convince Benioff and Weiss to revise their eight-season plan, despite Bloys’ claims that the channel would “take their lead on what they think they can do the best version of the show.”

Would extending Game of Thrones beyond its structured conclusion be detrimental to the show, or are you desperate for the show to never end?