Game of Thrones Shooting Multiple Endings to Avoid Spoilers

The massively popular HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones is nearing its series finale. The only problem now is keeping the ending secret at a time where everything easily leaks online. To combat this, the producers of the show are implementing a tried and true Hollywood tactic to dissuade would-be spoilers: shooting multiple endings. Nobody can know the real finale if even the cast and crew are not aware.

Game of Thrones Season 8

HBO president of programming Casey Bloys states that they are going for the multiple versions route while speaking to students at Moravian College in his hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This is a familiar tactic for HBO. They also employed a similar strategy to keep the ending of The Sopranos underwraps. In fact, it has become a necessity. Since between wrapping up shooting to editing, marketing and actual release, it can leak anytime.

The announcement for the final season 8 came on March 12, 2017. However, this last season begins shooting on October 2017. It will take several more months to film and the final airing will not start until fall 2018 into early 2019. Like seasons six and seven, the final season uses notes from George R.R. Martin’s unpublished books The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.

HBO is not completely closing its doors on the franchise after the final season airs however. Rumours are circulating that spin-offs in the form of prequels might follow its footsteps after.