The first official photo from Game of Thrones Season 8 has been revealed!

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The next issue of Entertainment Weekly will offer a first look at the final season of Game of Thrones, which means the just released cover is the first official season eight photo!

EWGoT8pic

The cover feels reminiscent of an Entertainment Weekly issue from 2013, which similarly featured Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke together in costume. The differences in dress and posture, most notably Daenerys wearing a new version of her fan-favorite fur dress ( now with added red,) and Jon’s hand on her back, are testaments to how far these characters have come. Back in 2013, they had never even shared the screen!

“[Season 8 is] about all of these disparate characters coming together to face a common enemy, dealing with their own past, and defining the person they want to be in the face of certain death,” Bryan Cogman told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s an incredibly emotional haunting bittersweet final season and I think it honors very much what [George R.R. Martin] set out to do — which is flipping this kind of story on its head.”

Harington and Clarke both spoke candidly about the intensity of the 10-month shoot.

“It’s relentless; scenes that would have been a one-day shoot five years ago are now a five-day shoot,” Harington said. “They want to get it right, they want to shoot everything every single way so they have options.”

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“[Camera] checks take longer, costumes are a bit better, hair and makeup a bit sharper — every choice, every conversation, every attitude, has this air of ‘this is it,’” Clarke added. “Everything feels more intense.”

On a lighter note, in the on-set video above the cast played another (perhaps final?) round of “Would You Rather? Westeros Edition”.

So, there it is. This means promotion for season eight will only ramp up from now on! What do you think about this first look?

55 Comments

  1. Woohoo!! And it looks like a slightly new hairstyle as well for Emilia? And an addition of her own little Ikea throw rug as well! Also, it looks like Kit has some type of red and black cloak draped around his arm. Hopefully Targaryen colours are more prominent!

  2. Is it just me or does Daenerys look pregnant!? 🙂

    I’M JOKING!!

    That is not to say that I don’t believe she will find out that she is, because I do believe that.

  3. M,

    LOL…I’m not big on the incest thing either but it is what it is and I’ve just learned to let it go – it’s a fantasy show/book. They’re not really related in real life so maybe try to think of it that way and it’s not so bad then. It’s certainly not as cringe worthy as the Jamie/Cersei relationship was.

  4. The entire article is a very interesting read.

    Davos didn’t read the script for season 8 in advance of the first table reading because he couldn’t get the double encrypted script to open, lol, and Kit apparently refused to read it in advance.

  5. This was the news I needed. I’ve been wondering when the promotion would begin. But considering it’s November, I’m sure we’ll get an actual teaser at the end of the month or in December for sure.

    I love how this picture shows them looking slightly melancholy. Even if they are together, it’ll still be tough to navigate the trials ahead. And this picture nails that sentiment.

  6. Interesting statement in the article:

    “okay, here’s one specific tease from the premiere — Sansa isn’t thrilled that Jon bent the knee to his fancy new Targaryen girlfriend, at least not at first.”

    Not to read too much into this, but it sounds like they are intimating that Sansa and Dany will eventually get past their differences and work together like I thought they would, but of course, this could just be a load of b.s. and it’ll all blow up in my face when it airs, lol.

  7. “here’s some basic setup we can tell you: Season 8 opens at Winterfell with an episode that contains plenty of callbacks to the show’s pilot. Instead of King Robert’s procession arriving, it’s Daenerys and her army. What follows is a thrilling and tense intermingling of characters — some of whom have never previously met, many who have messy histories — as they all prepare to face the inevitable invasion of the Army of the Dead.”

    I’m officially on board the hype train.

  8. Mr Derp,
    Yeah. My thoughts pretty much went to what I’ve been expecting. That is that Sansa (and Arya) will be suspect of Daenerys at first, relying heavily on what they’ve been told of Targaryens past, just as the rest of the Northmen have been doing. The girls themselves, particularly Sansa, should probably have that additional disappointment about bending the knee. I just can’t expect all of that mess to last long with what’s to come… so I figure they have to bond at least a bit fairly quickly.

  9. Full article on EW has some very interesting things. Way back in season 3 Benioff and Weiss were looking down the road to the final season and wanted to do it as three feature length films in theaters a la LOTR but HBO wouldn’t go for it. Likely explains why D&D chose to keep it to six episodes because that’s how they originally envisioned it, only now not in theaters.

  10. Sunfyre,

    I’m glad they went that route. I wouldn’t totally mind it if they did it as feature length movies in theaters, but I MUCH prefer to watch GoT in the comfort of my own home where I don’t have to put up with other people’s b.s.

  11. Mr Derp: a thrilling and tense intermingling of characters — some of whom have never previously met, many who have messy histories

    thilling:
    Jon and Arya!!!!
    Arya and Sandor
    Arya and Gendry
    Sam and Jorah

    tense (or awkward):
    Sansa and Tyrion
    Sansa and Sandor
    Sansa/Arya and Daenerys
    Daenerys and Sam
    Jorah and Lyanna M. if she’s around
    Bran and everyone 🙂

  12. Clob,

    I’m ALMOST looking forward to the first couple of episodes more than the rest simply because of the intermingling of so many characters.

    I also found it really encouraging that they said the big battle against the AOTD isn’t just one long battle. There’s a lot of character moments:

    “The battle doesn’t have just one focus, either, but rather intercuts between multiple characters involved in their own survival storylines that each feels like its own genre. “Having the largest battle doesn’t sound very exciting — it actually sounds pretty boring,” Benioff says. “Part of our challenge, and really, Miguel’s challenge, is how to keep that compelling… we’ve been building toward this since the very beginning, it’s the living against the dead, and you can’t do that in a 12-minute sequence.”

  13. Mr Derp,

    True it’s probably for the best this way.

    Wonder if they’ve given any thought to having their cake and eating it too. Airing on HBO first then after the finale doing a limited engagement in theaters. If it is as epic as it sounds it could be cool to have marathon showings of all six episodes back to back in state of the art theaters. For the hardcore fans.

  14. I look around at a meticulously constructed set that I’ve never seen on the show before. Several actors are performing, and I’m stunned: There are characters in the finale that I did not expect. I gradually begin to piece together what has happened in Westeros over the previous five episodes and try not to look like I’m freaking out.

    This is intriguing as hell. Can’t wait for more teases.

  15. Is Sophie standing in the “big table room” of the Dragonstone set? That window looks familiar.

  16. Catspaw Assassin:
    Is Sophie standing in the “big table room” of the Dragonstone set? That window looks familiar.

    Ah, you’re referring to the video. I hadn’t watched it until now.
    It does appear to be that as the columns do match. We can get a good look at those in a clip of Daenerys & Tyrion in S7:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yusXGit2Wjs

    She could have just been near that set when they did the video so I don’t know that we can glean anything from it, but still interesting.

  17. Stoked!

    But I gotta say. It kindof makes me laugh to see “Dany” and “Jon” posed together looking at a camera…. Cuz ya know. That wouldn’t happen in Westeros.

  18. Clob,

    She could have just been near that set when they did the video so I don’t know that we can glean anything from it, but still interesting.

    I do believe you’re right about that.

  19. Clob,
    Catspaw Assassin,

    Sansa is in the Dragonstone warroom and Bran seems to be at the Dragonstone set, too: it seems like the same pathway we saw in the Long Walk trailer and 601. I guess it implies that we are going to revisit Dragonstone, which is a bit unexpected, athough foreshadowed when Euron said that he was going to his island and Dany should go back to hers. Meanwhile Arya is on a boat set, which also kind of implies a trip to Dragonstone.

    As for the photo, I have already written that in another thread but Kit and Emilia look very tired and cold and distressed – definitely not a typical celebrity cover photo.

  20. Inga,
    Well I for one am not going to assume any of it implies or means anything, especially considering it’s just a little promo b.t.s. vid for fun. Each of them could be and are probably sets/pieces at Titanic Studios and they just had them stand next to whatever for filming. If anyone want’s to believe any of it proves something they can go ahead and have fun with that.

  21. OK, so I seriously need Dany’s winter coat. Want, want, want!

    I like the photo. It seems they’re actually in a cold place, the way their skin is white and a bit blotchy, the way skin gets in subzero (Celsius) temperatures. EW picture editors and their photoshoppers would not have added blotchiness, they’d rather get rid of it – maybe they did get rid of most of it but couldn’t completely erase the reality.

    Have to go and read the actual article now, haha.

  22. Inga,

    The video seems like it’s part 2 or the one they released before S7. Kit, Sophie, Maisie and Isaac seem to be in the exact same place they were for a similar vid before S7, even wearing the same costume and accessories. So I think this vid is old footage, filmed during filming of S7. Only released now to hype S8.

  23. I am sorry, for two such beautiful people that is a terrible cover photo. Both of their faces look bloated and splotchy and just not good and I just… I don’t know what the photographer, or photo editor/magazine editor was thinking. Honestly!

  24. JenniferH:
    I am sorry, for two such beautiful people that is a terrible cover photo. Both of their faces look bloated and splotchy and just not good and I just… I don’t know what the photographer, or photo editor/magazine editor was thinking. Honestly!

    Apparently the photo was taken in Iceland in subzero (Celsius) temperature. Below freezing. I don’t know where you live but take it from me, someone who lives in a place with cold winters, that is exactly how you look after a while outside. Your skin does look a bit white and blotchy.

    The photo editor may have decided not to photoshop it all away to, you know, convey an idea of coldness. The cool colour scheme supports this notion.

  25. talvikorppi: Apparently the photo was taken in Iceland in subzero (Celsius) temperature. Below freezing. I don’t know where you live but take it from me, someone who lives in a place with cold winters, that is exactly how you look after a while outside. Your skin does look a bit white and blotchy.

    The photo editor may have decided not to photoshop it all away to, you know, convey an idea of coldness. The cool colour scheme supports this notion.

    Then use a different photo because it’s a terrible photo for a magazine cover. Shoot them from a different angle, put them inside. Warm them up and then bring them outside. They look terrible and they are both beautiful people. The photographers, make-up artists, etc. and photo editors are *supposed* to be professionals. The finished product doesn’t look like it.

  26. She definitely looks pregnant, or she has been smashing lemon cake, chicken, and brown bread all off season.

  27. First post after a year or so. Amazing that it all comes back! It felt almost like it’s already over, so long took it until this cover catches my attention in my Facebook feed! Made my day! The description of the opening scene. OMG! I’m so hyped and full of sadness that it will end for sure. But it’s like life. That’s why we enjoy it.

  28. It’s not much but it’s something at last:-) My first reaction what just how much Kit and Emilia have aged since S1, amazing to think how they’ve both grown with the show both pretty much coming in as unknowns fresh from acting school.

    It’s the comments from Cogman which interest me most though. As I understand it he’s heavily into the books and has very good relationship with GRRM. Clearly we are getting an ending which he believes fits with how George envisages it. The second piece was about flipping the story on it’s head, I am super curious what he means here.

    As an aside I do wonder if a teaser and confirmation of when it will air is not too far away now, I’d estimate we won’t see the trailer until late second half of next month though.

  29. Jon’s outfit looks similar to Ned Stark’s. I prefer the one of season 7. I hope it’s just for the shooting.

  30. JenniferH: The photographers, make-up artists, etc. and photo editors are *supposed* to be professionals. The finished product doesn’t look like it.

    At first the photo disappointed me too, though more because it was about the most predictable (and least revealing) image they could’ve given us. Upon closer inspection I did notice that they didn’t look as beautiful as you’d expect for a magazine cover (especially her, I thought.) But maybe that’s intentional, trying to evoke the actual state they’ll be in more than creating the usual “perfect” cover. Idk.

    I don’t ship them either, but at least they have no idea yet that they’re related at all. Better than “Jonsa.” xp

    Skinny:
    She definitely looks pregnant, or she has been smashing lemon cake, chicken, and brown bread all off season.

    I couldn’t help cracking up.
    Do want a coat like that, though. *heart-eyes*

    Hmm. I would consider watching the season on the BIG-big screen, which could be quite an experience (provided the rest of the audience is respectful.) Have a feeling I’d wind up watching at home with the family members who’re into it (and maybe the odd one out too), since they prefer the comfort and conveniences of home.

    Some good responses in the little “Would You Rather” video, though I’m certain that’s old and I’ve definitely seen it. I remember so much of it.

  31. Sunfyre:
    Full article on EW has some very interesting things. Way back in season 3 Benioff and Weiss were looking down the road to the final season and wanted to do it as three feature length films in theaters a la LOTR but HBO wouldn’t go for it. Likely explains why D&D chose to keep it to six episodes because that’s how they originally envisioned it, only now not in theaters.

    This is interesting indeed, I wonder if act 1 was Dany’s invasion (s7 in essence), act 2 the battle with Whitewalkers and final act what comes after with the remaining humans? The more snippets I read I have the impression The white walker stuff will finish in episode 3 or 4 then last two will be sorting out who rules after the dust has settled.

  32. A quick question why have they changed kit harrington’s eye colour to a blue/grey? Does this give us a hint to his future? Night king part 2 or a wight.mmm. just my tinfoil moment.

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