Fans are already dreading the long wait for Season 7 of Game of Thrones, after Season 6 ended last month with two critically-acclaimed episodes that are considered by many to be the best yet. Game of Thrones season 7 is definitely coming, with HBO issuing a renewal back in April, just a few days before the season began, but shortly after the season ended, rumors started to surface that Season 7 would be a bit shorter than the first six seasons. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have since confirmed those rumors, but during a recent podcast appearance, they also teased that fans will have to wait a bit longer for the show to air than usual.

HBO has typically debuted each season of Game of Thrones anywhere between late March and late April, but despite the network already renewing the show, they haven't confirmed any further details. Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss recently appeared on the UFC podcast, since they are both huge MMA fans, where they teased that an air date hasn't been set, but it may be a bit later, for a fairly obvious reason. Here's what D.B. Weiss had to say below.

"We don't have an air date yet, but this year will probably be a bit later... we're starting a bit later because, you know, the end of this season, winter is here, and that means sunny weather doesn't serve our purposes anymore, so we pushed everything down the line to get some grim, grey weather, even in the sunnier places we shoot."

Last week, a new report confirmed the four directors who will take the helm for these Season 7 episodes, veterans Alan Taylor, Jeremy Podeswa and Mark Mylod, along with series newcomer Matt Shakman. Traditionally, the show picks five directors, with each taking the helm for two episodes, but there has been talk that Season 7 will span just seven episodes, with the eighth and final season containing six episodes to close out the series. David Benioff revealed that there will be just two more shortened seasons of Game of Thrones, but an episode count has not yet been determined.

"Two more. The two seasons will be a bit shorter. We don't have a definite episode count, but each season will be a bit shorter, because each season takes so much longer to shoot."

The showrunners were also asked about the possibility of a prequel series, although they wouldn't offer anything definitive. George R.R. Martin himself teased years ago that HBO was interested in developing a prequel series based on his novellas that are set 100 years before the events of the books and the TV series, which follow two characters in Westeros known as Dunk and Egg. While we wait for details, check out David Benioff and D.B. Weiss' podcast appearance, which starts at the 26:02 mark.

https://art19.com/shows/ufc-unfiltered/episodes/938c267b-ca40-4c47-ac36-8ed76b06f9f0/