We have been following the Dragonpit shoot at Itálica’s amphitheater for about a week. While most of the Game of Thrones cast enjoyed themselves in Seville, we’ve been speculating about what could unite so many characters. There is also the perhaps well-founded paranoia that some of these actors were actually there to misdirect us. But all of that may be over now, as we suspect filming in Spain may have wrapped early!
Before moving down to Spain, however, let’s catch up with Northern Ireland…
Irish Thrones reports the show is returning to a well-known Game of Thrones location. It’s been there since the beginning, as the Winterfell forests, and many times since: Tollymore Forest Park at Newcastle, County Down. What do you think we’ll see here?
PINK #GameOfThrones Irish filming location sign pointing to Tollymore Forest Park at Newcastle, County Down. pic.twitter.com/wjjJJuBnC7
— Irish Thrones (@IrishThrones) May 13, 2018
Now, back to Seville, perhaps for the last time. For the last week, we have reported on many of photographic sightings of the cast, but this is a little different: it was one such cast member, Lena Headey, who shared the following photo featuring herself and Conleth Hill enjoying “a romantic evening in Seville”, and when you see it I think you’ll agree this beautiful work of art needed to be reported on with the utmost priority:
As for the main piece of news today, it’s more speculative than definitive, though the evidence is piling up: the cast may be done shooting in Itálica, three days earlier than scheduled. First of all, yesterday Sophie Turner wrote this slightly cryptic tweet:
Wow. My heart is broken and full all at once ♥️ A beautiful, sad, bittersweet day.
— Sophie Turner (@SophieT) May 15, 2018
Certainly, “a beautiful, sad, bittersweet day” sounds like a final day of filming, but the comment is otherwise ambiguous. Was yesterday Sophie Turner’s last day in Itálica; perhaps her last opportunity to film with many of her co-stars? Was it her last day in Game of Thrones—period? Or perhaps it’s not just Turner and the Itálica shoot has wrapped earlier than expected. The only possibility we can rule out is that season eight is finished with production, since we know it will continue at least for another month.
This would be an open question were it not for the evidence that Turner may not have been the only one done in Spain. Though nothing is confirmed, several local sources claim the cast, or most of it, has already vacated the Alfonso XIII hotel and left Seville. If these rumors are true, in the next hours and days we should expect several sightings of the stars who were in Seville at airports, back home and in Belfast.
Whether the Itálica shoot is finished or not, it’s remarkable how little has leaked from the entire endeavor, except (perhaps) the cast involved. There will be room to speculate for months to come, probably until we actually get to watch the series finale next year!
Hodor
Hodor!
I wonder if Kit, Lena, and Nikolaj actually filmed in Italica..
Nikolaj was there last week but left early (Thursday or Friday) to go to Cannes. Lena arrived last Friday (May 11th) but apparently left on Sunday. And Kit arrived late afternoon / early evening Monday. He was seen hanging out at the pool Tuesday morning and then taking pictures with fans in the afternoon.
End of Series Documentary for the Season 8 Blu-Ray. That’s is what was shot, the crew only built the stage, no tents, no banners. All cast members who came were interviewed.
That’s the truth
I know people say that Sophie likes to troll people, but, based on the timing, it seems like she sent that message out legitimately.
I would assume that she finished filming, but it could also be that someone else finished filming and she’s just sad about that too. Who knows.
Jay Targ,
I just commented the explaintion for the shoot
That may be part of it, but not the whole story, and I have no idea why you insist otherwise. The producers have said they wanted to return to the Dragonpit location for season eight since before season seven even aired, so they definitely went there to actually film something. Also, it’s absurdly expensive to rent the site and build that set just for a documentary; they could’ve filmed that in the (also entirely believable) King’s Landing set in Belfast, which I’m sure would have been much more comfortable for everyone.
Also, we know for a fact extras were involved, cast directly from the Spanish producing subcontractor, instead of through an open casting call. If they were ONLY filming a doc, extras wouldn’t be needed.
Joe Weaver,
Maybe, maybe not. I doubt the cast members who were there for the entire 6-7 days only filmed that. That’s more believable in the case of NCW, Lena, and Kit because their movements are easily traceable and they were not there the entire time.
Joe Weaver,
This nonsense “documentary” is ridiculous already. So they shot a “documentary” without Emilia Clarke, Rory McCann, Alfie Allen, Jerome Flynn, Hannah Murray and Nathalie Emmanuel among others. And they shot it in a location that has zero bearing to some of the supposed former cast members part of it. And speaking of former cast members they filmed this of course with no Sean Bean or Mark Addy or Michelle Fairley, or Jack Gleeson or Michael McElhatton, etc
Let’s be honest here. This “documentary” nonsense is nothing more than an attempt to try to explain away why Emilia Clarke is not part of this filming. It originated on the freefolk sub on reddit which everyone knows is extremely pro Daenerys. There are limited options as to why Dany is missing from this so they have attempted to rationalize it with a “documentary” or “Kit and Rose’s wedding” (which is another one they talk up), and both are ridiculous.
Sansa is a huge character in terms of screen time these days, really wouldn’t surprise me if she’s still got some stuff left to do.
I guess we’ll have to see. Wouldn’t she just outright say she’s done filming though?
Hmm filming in the woods, eh? I have no idea what they could be filming, but I’ll throw out some possibilities:
direwolve scene?
The Northern population fleeing South?
Aaand… suddenly there is no budget anymore! 😀
Seriously, they need to give us some serious direwolf screentime. They should be seen with their owners all times, to be honest, but I’ll settle for key action moments (like Ghost in the Battle at Castle Black) and character beats (like Nymeria with Arya in season seven). Hopefully season eight will deliver on this.
I like the use of Tollymore again. With just a very quick search I didn’t see a list of all scenes that were filmed there but I did see a few that were; for various Wolfswood scenes S1 and the series opening scene in the Haunted Forest. I just assume that several more have been filmed there during the series. Regardless of where they’ve filmed forest scenes they’re all pretty great though. 🙂
You writing that in that manner basically just makes me think one thing, that you’re one of the minority that is anti-Daenerys. I personally don’t know how a person that’s read the books and then has also watched the show can be highly anti-Daenerys. Maybe you didn’t read the books to get her internal pov thoughts or maybe you did and you still don’t like her. You can feel how you want of course, but I believe you’re mistaken in being derogatory toward those that are not because from my perspective she is among the favored by most, along with Jon and Arya.
Final season is going to be HUGE. One year boys and girls!
Those pink GoT signs always make me smile. 🙂
Not to be a pessimist, but with a year left until the show airs, I wouldn’t be surprised if something major was leaked. I just can’t see so many behaving for such a long period. 😜
With the filming in the forest, I believe we will finally see the diresquirrels.
Thor always is so pretty.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi1-33UFSvj/
Pigeon,
We really need to see the Mountain in all his patched up, undead glory in S8, surely?
I’m avoiding spoilers for S8 so I have been avoiding who was there if I can (I have heard about one major absence unfortunately) however reading Sophie’s tweet I assume she was there (for filming or as a distraction) and I would read her tweet to mean she has now wrapped up filming for S8. With only one month to go and knowing they do not shoot in running sequence this is more than possible. The only caveat being Sophie is known to troll!
My guess:
They shot the final scene, but still have more to shoot.
As far as Dany goes let’s just hope she had other obligations. I don’t recall her being 100% confirmed anywhere but Belfast? Remember that Varys has been foreshadowed to die in season 8, but he was in Seville
Odd to think this time next year we will very likely have seen the end of the series, more short term, one month of filming left then the real long night begins where we won’t know if rumours/leaks are true until the show starts.
Clob,
Each person can have their own opinion about the characters. I think that Daenery’s is a bad ruler. That Tywin in the end was full of shit, that Rhaegar was a douchebag and that Lyanna was an hypocrite for eloping with a married man with two kids. And that Jon is an oath breaker.
Freefolk is another matter. I try to not take seriously 90% of what is said. Is like listening to football supporters (Cristiano-Messi).
Eonwe,
He never said they couldn’t feel a certain way. Yes he was presumptuous, but he made it clear that the person had agency to think however they pleased.
It is possible that Theon is still alive even though he has not been to Seville, right?
Eonwe,
The point he was making was that the guy is a hypocrite saying people have bias for Dany when he’s clearly biased as well, saying things like there are only a limited options for why Dany isn’t there doesn’t exactly scream objectivism, apparently in his view if you don’t think Dany is dead or dying,you are a fanboy,at least that’s what he implies .
That’s why he was on the toilet when Tyrion found him…
Hey all, please be considerate people are trying to avoid spoilers, so don’t post who was and wasn’t in Seville:)
Not looking good since Gemma Whelan was there. Why wouldn’t Theon be with Yara? I predict Theon will sacrifice himself to save her, probably taking out Euron in the process. I like Theon but I think I’d be satisfied if he went out that way, finally finding his courage and successfully saving his sister at the cost of his own life.
Cutango,
History repeating itself. Sophie Turner hasn´t been spoted filming in those 55 nigths of battle shooting. “Sansa Stark dies this season!” Emilia is not at the Dragonpit. “Daenerys is dead!”
Undead Elephant,
Better yet. His rotting corpse was paraded to all the nobility who started making jokes about him. That´s one of my favourite moments of AFFC. When Martin writes how Tywin´s legacy is shit.
Jon Snowed,
Even the people that know who were in Seville still have no idea what happened there or who filmed/didn’t film, so rest assured no spoilers can come of it. Only rampant speculation.
It would be interesting for sure! Think of the time in the makeup chair!
Regarding Seville – although unlikely, it still is possible that this could be a vision sequence.
Mr Derp,
We can bet on the actors whose stand-in doubles were seen in Sevilla.
But I wonder about the lack of presence of certain actors.
I’ll look out for that, I’m currently on the prologue of AFFC on my first read-through. I’ve heard a lot about it being a drop in quality from the first three books.
Pigeon,
D&D said that this season we are gonna see characters going to places they were never before. And…
Ëonwë,
Oh, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised!
Luka Nieto,
Damn. HBO could’ve done a crowdfunding online to generate a sufficient direwolf budget and gotten all the money they needed in a matter of hours. I would’ve gladly forked over a nice chunk of change to see Ghost and Nymeria in action again. Though to be frank, I was not overwhelmed with the Nymeria scene in S7e2.
I won’t say I’ve reached my DSP* again. I got lots of pushback the last time I grumbled about that. And I have to admit, the show has done a fabulous job with the CGI dragons. (They behave just like my little pet bird – only they’re the size of aircraft carriers.) Dany + 3 dragons vs. the Masters’ Armada in S6e9 and Drogon in FoF 2.0 in S7e4 will always be visual highlights for me.
Now if I could only teach my lovebird to obey the Dracarys! command….
* DSP = Dragon Saturation Point
So far, the only command I can get my 36 year old dove to respond to is “Dra-coo-rys”.
AFfC is a big swing from what you’ve gotten used to in the first three books, namely, points of view. ASoS is mostly Arya, Jon, Tyrion, Sansa, Daenerys, Catlyn, Davos and Bran that account for 66 of the 80 chapters. NONE of them have pov chapters in AFfC except Arya and Sansa with 3 each. AFcC is mostly Jaime, new pov characters Cersei and Brienne along with additions of the Dorne “junk” and Greyjoys. I personally just wanted to read about my favorites so it bugged me there was so little.
Also, if you haven’t heard AFfC and ADwD have a lot of stuff that’s happening around the same time. In other words they’re sort of chronologically jumbled. This site has a list of the chapters said to be in chronological order if you want to try reading that way:
http://boiledleather.com/post/25902554148/a-new-readerfriendly-combined-reading-order-for-a
Yes! At least, I hope so. 🙂
We definitely need dire wolves next season, or I’ll rain down fire on HBO with all the power I have!
Maybe even as little as 10 months! It’s certainly possible that S8 could debut as early as March of next year.
—————-
May 16, 2018
HoundWatch Day 7
Where is Rory McCann?
#PrayforSandor
#TheGods Aren’tDonewithYouYet
Clob,
The chronological merging of Feast & Dance is often called A Ball of Beasts. I own all the originals on E-book. So I downloaded a pdf version of Ball. I may give it a try once I reread the entire series again, but that ain’t happening until Winds comes. Fingers Crossed…
Ten Bears,
You think we’re gonna have a Clegane Bowl where they both die? And if he’s mortally wounded, will Arya give him the gift this time? That would be a strong scene & maybe see her she’d a tear… That would be a helluva ending for The Hound.
Ten Bears,
I think it was mentioned in some interview that the VFX for the direwolves was even harder to make realistic than that for the dragons. I think it had something to do with making the motion of their fur realistic
The cast landing in London, so it seems that they did leave.
https://imgur.com/a/2hYlufd
Posted it as a screenshot with the names blurred as it doesn’t feel right to share personal accounts. But I’m sure you can find it.
krupke,
I remember seeing that in an interview, commentary, or behind the scenes feature as well, though I can’t recall which exactly. In any case, rendering realistic fur is very time consuming and difficult work. I’m hoping that’s what some of the extra post-production time is required for, though, so we can finally get some amazing dire wolf action and scenes in S8! *fingers crossed*
Aegon the Icedragon,
I just can’t see him dying alongside his psychopathic brother. It makes no sense to me. If Arya does give him the gift, it’ll be after doing something *meaningful*, not after putting a rabid dog (pun intended) out of his misery.
Clob,
The words “free folk sub on reddit” was a red flag. (By the way, aren’t they the clowns who disseminated the stolen scripts story lines before last season?)
The discourse on those sites is toxic. All too often threads devolve into name-calling, slurs, and back-and-forth personal attacks.
Sorry. I should not generalize. I just don’t like the “mob mentality” on other sites.
Arya Stark,
Yes. The mere presence or absence of an actor in Seville really doesn’t say much about their character’s fate.. especially because at this point we don’t even know what they were filming there, and which actors were actually involved.
Ten Bears,
Once again you are talking about something that you clearly don’t know, free folk is anything but what you just described, it’s a place free of moderation yes bu rarely does it get out of hand, when will you be tired of making ridiculous comments, when people like me start calling you out for them ?
Aegon the Icedragon,
At this point I’d be disappointed to see a Cleganebowl. In prior seasons, Sandor professed to be motivated by “hate”, but I think he has gradually retreated from that. (He’s even started to have friends!)
In S7e2, he was so screwed up he couldn’t even accept Sansa’s gratitude:
Sansa: “I beg pardon, ser. I should have come to you after to thank you for saving me. You were so brave.”
Sandor: “Brave? A dog doesn’t need courage to chase off rats.”
Sansa: “Does it give you joy to scare people?”
Sandor: “No, it gives me joy to kill people.”
****
Sandor: “Killing is the sweetest thing there is.”
Sansa. “Why are you always so hateful?”
Sandor: “You’ll be glad of the hateful things I do someday when you’re queen and I’m all that stands between you and your beloved king.”
In the next season, he insisted to Arya that “hate” was as good a thing as any to keep someone going, and joked that of they came across the Mountain they could both cross a name off their respective lists. Then in S6e7 Sandor tried that same line on Brother Ray:
Ray: “When I found you, I thought you’d been dead for days.
***
Ray: “I reckoned you’d die a dozen more times over the next few days, but you didn’t. What kept you going?”
Sandor: “Hate.”
Ray: “No, there’s a reason you’re still here.”
Sandor: “Aye, there’s a reason. I’m a big f*cker and I’m tough to kill.
Ray: “No, a reason. The gods aren’t done with you yet.”
He’s started to feel remorse for the things he’s done, eg, robbing Rabbit Stew Sally’s dad and hastening if not causing their deaths by starvation/suicide. With Brother Ray, he acknowledged he’d done some evil things that warranted punishment;
Ray: “What matters, I believe, is that there’s something greater than us. And whatever it is, it’s got plans for Sandor Clegane.”
Sandor: “You didn’t know me back in my time. You don’t know the things I’ve done.”
Ray: “I’ve heard stories.”
Sandor: “If the gods are real, why haven’t they punished me?”
Ray: “They have.”
I think (I hope) he’s letting go of the hate that’s corroded his soul ever since Gregor mutilated him and his father covered for Gregor. And Gregor isn’t really Gregor anymore. He’s an undead zombie, a mindless killing machine. He is no longer the malevolent psychopath that Sandor hated. (Although Gregor did perk up a bit when he took a look at Septa Unella strapped to the table.)
Anyway, I wouldn’t want to see Sandor revert back to Mr. Hateful and seek (hollow) vengeance against FrankenGregor.
Enharmony1625,
I don’t really care about “realistic fur.” Just have a long range shot of Jon playing frisbee with Ghost in the background. I’d be happy. And show Nymeria leading her pack in formation from high above, eg, as if Dany is watching them.
I’m not complaining that the dragons’ scales and spikes aren’t realistic. So if a direwolf’s fur is s bit wonky, I wouldn’t even notice. Or care.
May 17, 2018
HoundWatch Day 8
Where is Rory McCann?
#PrayforSandor
Ten Bears,
But the difference is that dragons aren’t real and wolves and dogs are, facepalm again, you just never tire do you ?
So the hired extras for the Dragon Pit shooting were casted as unsullied. Interesting.
What’s the source for that info?
There is a photo on twitter of the extras celebrating the end of filming (text is in Spanish) but they were playing unsullied. Although I am avoiding spoilers but there is a lot of speculation
which was filmed.
There’s talk about Kit Harington and Jacob Anderson filming in Itálica yesterday morning very early. But nothing confirmed.
https://lossietereinos.com/termina-rodaje-la-ultima-temporada-juego-tronos-sevilla/
I was really impressed by how realistic they made the dragons appear, particularly in the scene in S7E5 where Jon pets Drogon. I think it might be easier to insert the direwolves into a scene when they’re standing still. It may have something to do with what the background scenery is as well. Also maybe we can suspend disbelief b/c we know dragons aren’t real, but wolves are real and we’d be more sensitive to subtle visual anomalies of a CGI wolf ?
Yes, indeed. I am.
Jon Snowed,
For someone who’s avoiding spoilers you seem to know more than most do, lol. Are you sure that you’re avoiding spoilers as much as you say?
Yes I am Mr Derp, I don’t read any of the articles Watchers report which have spoilers, with only one exception and that’s because someone told me about it in casual conversation.
I am not totally blind because my friends are also mad on Game of Thrones so occasionally I pick up on things there, also in the comments on non-spoiler articles such as this but where I pick up stuff inadvertently is probably twitter as I follow Dragons Daughter, Watchers, Winter is Coming, Joanna Robinson, Kim Renfro, Luka, Sue and most of the crew from here.
Essentially if I can avoid spoilers I do and never dig into any articles but even headers give things away.
I guess it’s hard to be totally unsullied unless I stop following people I enjoy reading on twitter and also don’t use Watchers which I love.
Cutango,
So you defend the freefolk sub on reddit.. by making personal attacks in this forum? We’re all here to discuss and debate and talk about this show we all love. Please keep it respectful!
Enharmony1625,
I was thinking the exact same thing. The one person defending the freefolk sub on reddit as a respectful place is the one person on WOTW who’s resorting to personal attacks. Shocking.
That’s why I’m so glad that no real leaks or major spoilers have come out yet for season 8. At least as far as I know. To me, spoilers for GoT is like watching a car crash. It’s horrible, but at the same time it’s nearly impossible to look away.
Enharmony1625,
I don’t really care about “realistic fur.” Just have a long range shot of Jon playing frisbee with Ghost in the background. I’d be happy. And show Nymeria leading her pack in formation from high above, eg, as if Dany is watching them.
I agree! Even if they film the wolves separately from the actors, so you can’t see the size scale. 1) Arya is about to be overwhelmed by White Walkers 2) she yells, “Nymeria!” 3) you see a shot of the wolf who plays Nymeria leaping, 4) cut to a shot of all the White Walkers dead on the ground 5) cut to Arya saying, “Good Direwolf!”
There has been so much foreshadowing and build up of the wolves, with the theme “The lone wolf dies but the pack survives” that I would be really disappointed if we don’t have more direwolf action.
Ten Bears,
Just the thought of seeing Arya with Nymeria and her wolf pack behind her gives me goosebumps! That could easily be one of the greatest scenes in the show if it happens.