Jason Momoa is every bit as hyped for the Game of Thrones final season as we are. He returned from a set visit in Belfast with huge expectations and enthusiastic, albeit vague, praise. Conversely, Tom Wlaschiha admits total ignorance about season 8 but shared his thoughts on Arya’s character development.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jason Momoa said that the conclusion to Game of Thrones is “going to be the greatest thing that’s ever aired on TV. It’s going to be unbelievable. It’s going to f*** up a lot of people. And it was a bummer because I’m a huge fan and I didn’t want to know what’s going on. I was like, ‘Damn, I didn’t want to know that!”
To clarify, Momoa was only on set to catch up with his old cast mates, not to film a Gandalf-esque return for Khal Drogo. But Momoa seemed tickled by how Rises in the West theorists reacted to reports of his presence on set.
“I haven’t been over there in a long time,” he said. “You just want to see your friends and you end up make headlines going, ‘Drogo’s back!’ and I’m like, ‘He’s dead! He can’t come back, it wouldn’t work.’”
In the six seasons since Momoa left left the show, of course, many, many new actors have joined the cast and it was a treat for Momoa to finally get to chat with some of them.
“I’ve always wanted to meet Kristofer Hivju” Momoa said. “He’s just awesome.”
Though Momoa is far from bored these days, with his starring roles in the Netflix show, Frontier and the Justice League and Aquaman franchises, he admitted to feeling some envy watching the Dothraki in action in the Field of Fire battle in season 7.
“Seeing the Dothraki riding over the hill, going into battle surfing their horses, it was unbelievable. It was such a cool scene,” he said. “It’s also a bummer moment: Why couldn’t [Drogo] have died there! I could have died in battle. We never got to see Drogo going into battle.”
Tom Wlaschiha was recently in Singapore to celebrate HBO Asia’s 25th anniversary and spoke with a regional outlet about season 8.
“A man knows nothing,” he said … but then added that, “That’s my standard answer to (avoid giving away spoilers).”
He chatted about his perpetual amazement at getting recognized on the street by fans and briefly discussed Arya’s evolution, noting that she’s has lots of “different teacher characters and they’ve all been very important in making her what she is now.”
And then for the big fan question: who does he think will be seated on the Iron Throne at the end of season 8 episode 6?
“My personal theory is that no one will sit on the iron throne,” Wlaschiha said.
I know nothing either hurry up George
Jason Momoa is the ultimate fanboy! He’s just great.
”Seeing the Dothraki riding over the hill, going into battle surfing their horses, it was unbelievable. It was such a cool scene,” he said. “It’s also a bummer moment: Why couldn’t [Drogo] have died there! I could have died in battle. We never got to see Drogo going into battle.”
Yeah, it’s unfortunate we never got to see Drogo in battle (probably cost-prohibitive in S1), though ripping out a rival’s tongue and pouring molten gold on Dany’s doofus brother’s head were pretty cool.
PS I say there’s a good chance Drogo (or his ghost) will show up in S8. He’d be required to deny it either way.
So, someone just up and told Jason the ending to the show?
There certainly are possible story reasons that could use a Drogo appearance in a Daenerys dream or vision. One could assume that she’s going to have some internal struggles with her feelings for Jon and information that’s bound to come to light. It’s not a necessary thing but not an absurd inclusion if they chose to do such a thing.
It does seem a little odd that they would even as a former cast member, but, being good friends with D&D and hearing how much they enjoy their time at the pubs it does become rather believable that he was told.
Clob,
Yea, I assume that was most likely how it went down, but still, if they’re as gung ho on stopping leaks this year as they say they are then they shouldn’t tell anyone unless they want to flirt with the ending leaking. Just my opinion, of course 🙂
Unless of course, he had access to the script for a cameo appearance 😉
Wow this is the first actual abstract clue we’ve gotten about the ending. And it’s coming from a cast member who died in season 1 lmao.
Thank you though Momoa. I’m even more stoked now.
I love how Tom has “internalised” his role, and speaking in English (not his native tongue) goes “A man knows nothing”.
It must be great to be able to throw that at fans who “know” so much about upcoming events because headcanon – not that I expect Jaqen H’gar to ever turn up again. Just a nice anecdote/phrase Tom can repeat for the rest of his life. ;-D
Momoa is the annoying friend who doesn’t get the hint.
Sadly James Hibbard also states in his article that the final season is most likely to air in 2019 rather than 2018, I was hoping we were now less than a year away but January makes most sense given Christmas schedules,
How does Momoa know what in the screenplay?
Something does not square about that.
Boojam,
Technically he didn’t read the screenplays. He was on set for a bit (a few days I believe) and actually watched them film. He was probably also told certain details by friends off-camera as well.
Momoa must have gotten D&D drunk, and they told him everything.
I don’t believe for one second that they are going to let even a former cast member just waltz in and be privy to the TS-ESI (above top secret for especially sensitive information) ending to the entire show, especially a cast member who doesn’t even want to know the ending!!! That’s a strictly need-to-know kind of privilege at this point!
I’m doubtful that this means Drogo comes back to life, of course, but I expected his dead self to have scenes in the end, whether Dany dream visions, or snippets of what Dany wants to be, or scenes of a dead Dany reuniting with her love and her baby, I do not know. I would currently put the likelihood of a Mimosa – err, Momoa – appearance in the final season at 99% and final episode at 75%.
“My personal theory is that No One will sit on the iron throne,” Wlaschiha said.
In the books Dany has many visions/dreams so it wouldn’t be unrealistic for her to have more especially if she is pregnant. Given how many hints they dropped about babies last season I expect she will be and she may remember her lost child and husband through another vision or dream sequence. I doubt D&D would do it but it would make sense in terms of her character. It doesn’t have to be that she dies and sees them again, maybe it’s a dream to finally let go of past and embrace her future? I’m sure I’m reaching but it’s a good excuse to bring Momoa back into the fold for a brief appearance given he’s such a fan favorite.
Whilst I agree in principle, it’s also possible they were filming elements of the final episode whilst he was on set so he may have found out pieces based upon locations/characters and chat from the production team.
Either way I’m just pleased nothing has leaked of note despite being a couple of months into filming now.
If Dany dies, it would not be at all surprising for them to show her last thoughts as a reprise of the Drogo/Rhaego vision from the House of the Undying. They might’ve been planning to reuse some old footage, until someone at the table reminded the rest of how much scorn they got from the fanbase over Baby Sam’s inability to age. Maybe we’ll see a Rhaego who’s 6 or 8 years old, requiring a new Drogo shot or two.
Momoa has to realize that Drogo just wouldn’t die at all in the battle against Lannisters: If through some magic he had been alive in the Loot train, Drogo would have put Jaime’s beautiful head on a pike.
Ten Bears<
I dont think she will die…Jon propably….her visions in the HOU are a lie…there is no afterlife after death…Jon proved this saying to Mellisandra that he sow nothing were he had go during his death …when she asked him if he shows something during his death.Maybe he needs to die again for to see something this time
Jason’s a goof. To me, it’s equally believable that he could make an appearance, or not. A dream, a flashback, a 2 second glance, or not. Not a biggie – I’d like to see him, but it’s not like he’d have an entire scene or anything. I’m fine with wait and see.
Tom, on the other hand, knows everything. 😉 I would probably make a small bet on him being back in Season 8. Then again, I watch films and interviews in German just to see him, the guy is sex appeal personified.
Nah.
I really hope not, we’ve not seen any last minute life before their eyes flashes or dreams for any characters who have died, I hope they maintain that if either Jon, Dany or Tyrion die.
2019 Hope not. HBO is already running scared of Netflix and Amazon and now with Apple entering the fray they don’t want to lose their momentum. I’m still calling it for late 2018 they can’t afford to lose subscribers.
Louie Jourdan,
The thing is, they’ve never aired it during NFL season where they have to compete with SNF, and I also don’t see them doing it during holiday season (Nov/Dec) when people are busy. In all likelihood it’ll be aired in Jan/Feb/March of 2019 during the slow season.
Ryan,
That’s a good point. That would point to mid February after the Super Bowl, which is a ratings juggernaut they wouldn’t want to compete with.
Louie Jourdan,
The filming schedule for Season 8 would make releasing it in late 2018 extremely rushed.
Chreechree,
That seems reasonable to me. I think when all is said and done the 8.1 airdate will be Feb 10 2019 with the series finale on St. Patty’s day 2019.
Good luck avoiding leakes if they complete it and put it on the shelf for a year and I don’t think the rest of the world cares one wit about your superbowl. That’s why they subscribe to cable to avoid the crap on tv.
spacechampion,
A very good tactic actually 😂
Is this confirmed?
Artemisia,
No, this person is just speculating.
Artemisia,
No. That’s just my best guesstimate based on speculation. I don’t believe it will be late 2018 and I don’t think they’ll make people wait all the way until April/May 2019 either. Feb/March is typically slow time for TV otherwise.
It’s also somewhat poetic…. begins in winter and ends at “a dream of spring” mid March.
Emmet Foureyes,
Yeah, the super bowl is only the most watched event on TV every year and HBO only has 50 million subscribers in the USA…..good post.
No chance they’ll put one of the final 6 episodes of the series up against the super bowl.
I didn’t know you spoke for the rest of the world. Besides, you’re wrong. For example, the Super Bowl is viewed in over 180 countries in 25 different languages. Moreover, 38.5 million people outside of the U.S. watched Super Bowl 48, which was a few years ago. Obviously, it’s more popular in the U.S., but it’s still pretty damn popular elsewhere as well.
“My personal theory is that no one will sit on the iron throne,” Wlaschiha said.
Haha classic Ja’qen
I must confess I don’t really understand American football but Game of Thrones is the biggest show on TV, could they simply not move the day it airs on to avoid a clash? Appreciate Superbowl is big in the US but it’s not going to be an issue for the rest of the world I suspect.
DINGDINGDINGDING
That was my immediate reaction as well. Tom, you sly, sexy jesus.
I want to see GoT themed commercials during the Super Bowl!
I’m not sure how licensing works regarding this, is it HBO exclusively or GRRM as well. Either way, I say whole sale that shit to advertisers for Super Bowl. 👍
Now, what are some commercials we could come up with here? 😃
I’m brainstorming one with Sam and the citadel so no one do that.
EDIT: That one is too easy. Obviously, Samwell would do a toilet cleaner commercial.
Well, although Jason Momoa is one good looking man, the Dothraki are among the most uninteresting people on the show (although the Dothraki vs ice zombies could be fun). To be honest, with all their slaughtering, pillaging and raping I really really don’t like them – and that went for Drogo as well. So, I really don’t care if he makes a brief appearance.
The faceless men, on the other hand, were very interesting, so I kinda hope we see them again. I spent last season (or at least half of it) expecting to see that Tycho Nestoris was indeed a faceless man, there to fool Cersei with all that talk of loans.
Too bad it never happened!
PS I know that SuperBowl is an american football match, but I never got why it is so special.
bob,
Oh, noos!
This is the only want I want Jamie’s dead body displayed:
* Jamie’s body is laid out on a pyre. Brienne touches his face. Tyrion waits, lit torch in hand. Mel watches on dispassionately – until she overhears…
Pod: “My Lady’s heart is cleaved in two.”
Bron: “He once told me, he wanted to die in the arms of the woman he loved…”
Mel: “And did he? Did he love the Evenstar’s Daughter?”
(Mel nods her head towards Brienne).
Bron:”They way they looked at each other…? Yeah, he fooking loved her.”
Mel walks over to the pyre, she takes the torch from Tyrion. The flame goes out. She touches Jamie’s hair. Brienne’s tears splash down on his golden hand … it’s fingers begin to move. He gasps, and sits up. He raises up his living metal hand, small golden flames flicker across his fingertips. *
And then he has the “hands” he needs to strangle his sister, and looks like the cave painting and most importantly fulfils a random internet theory.
I was expecting either October or November 2018 but James Hibberd is extremely well informed. If he says start of 2019 then I would take that as very reliable. Interestingly it means 6 months of post production more than double the usual so lots of white walker and dragon action I suspect.
Really? We know they are filming until June and in prior seasons they have had around 3 months of post production. If they show airs in January 2019 as now seems likely that’s a huge amount of time for post production CGI.
No it’s a guess, all we know is that the show runners said it will air either in the second half of 2018 or at the start of 2019. Now James Hibbard who is the most well informed Journslist for the show states start date is not confirmed but beginning of 2019 very likely.