Before Game of Thrones Season 5 officially launched, it was widely reported that Isaac Hempstead-Wright would be sitting out all ten episodes. Screenwriters, executive producers, and sometimes directors D.B. Weiss and David Benioff wanted to streamline the plot, which meant Bran Stark and Hodor would not be showing up at all. But now it looks like Game of Thrones Season 6 will pick back up with the plot line North of the Wall, with Isaac Hempstead-Wright confirming that he will return. But, as the TV show has reached the end of the published books, he doesn't quite now what he'll be doing. He had this to say to The Irish Examiner.

I can't say a lot but I am back this season, and it's going to get particularly interesting with Bran. He has some interesting visions.

Isaac Hempstead-Wright revealed that he is heading back to the set to start shooting the first episodes for Game of Thrones Season 6 later this month. When asked, he had no new insight or updates regarding Kit Harington's expected return as Jon Snow.

In the books, Bran's storyline was further along than some of the other characters. It made perfect sense for him to sit on the sidelines all through Game of Thrones's latest episodes. In his final Game of Thrones Season 4 episodes, Bran Stark had just reached the Weirwood trees beyond the wall. His Traveling party was attacked by a group of wights, with Jojen meeting his demise. Soon after, Bran met the Children of the Forest and the Three-Eyed Rave. It is expected that they have been training the young Stark all throughout the events seen in Game of Thrones Season 5. The series wanted to avoid jumping too far ahead, keeping all the characters on the same timeline, with David Benioff further explaining the character's absence as such.

"The fact is, even though we're making changes to the books and adapting as necessary, we're trying to keep the various story lines the same as the books and trying to keep them roughly [chronologically] parallel.

With Game of Thrones Season 6 caught up to the published books, both readers and viewers will experience all-new story arcs for the first time ever. We still have nearly a year to go before any of these secrets get revealed, as the show is expected to return this spring. An official premiere date has not yet been announced.