Game of Thrones showrunners: We are going to go to 7 seasons

Fear not, Thrones fans. We've got a whole lot more of the hit HBO fantasy drama coming our way...

By Ellie Walker-Arnott, 12 March 2014

RadioTimes

With the fourth series of HBO's hit fantasy series Game of Thrones poised to premiere on our telly sets in 26 days (10 hours and 37 minutes. Not that we are counting or anything...) excitement is running high.  

And there's yet more good news on the way for Thrones fans, as showrunner David Benioffhas confirmed that the series is set to run for another three seasons after that. 

"If we're going to go seven seasons, which is the plan, season four is right down the middle, the pivot point," said Benioff, adding: "It feels like this is the midpoint for us."

"Seven gods, seven kingdoms, seven seasons. It feels right to us," he told Entertainment Weekly.

"It was our unstated goal, because to start on a show and say your goal is seven seasons is the height of lunacy. Once we got to the point where we felt like we’re going to be able to tell this tale to its conclusion, that became [an even clearer] goal."

Benioff's words confirm our previous hopes that Game of Thrones will continue to run. Speaking after winning Radio Times' Bafta Audience Award last year producer Frank Doelger said: "I would hope that, if we all survive, and if the audience stays with us we’ll probably get through to seven seasons."

The series is based on George RR Martin's fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, which is intended to comprise seven volumes. So far only five of the books have been finished, with the last, A Dance with Dragons, taking the author five years to complete. Rumour has itGeorge RR Martin has told showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss the major plots in the yet-to-be-completed novels in case the show overtakes George RR Martin's writings, or he is unable to complete the series.