'Game of Thrones' Actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Hints at Completion of 'Winds of Winter': When will it be Published?

George RR Martin's publisher HarperCollins has already revealed that the next instalment in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels, "Winds of Winter," will not be published this year. But actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has piqued the interest of fans when he recently revealed that the next book might release soon.

The actor who plays Jaime Lannister in HBO's "Game of Thrones" said in a recent interview that he believes author George RR Martin has finished penning "Winds of Winter."

"[The show bosses] know as much as George R.R. Martin knows [about the story]," Coster-Waldau told Men's Health. "He hasn't written the books, but he knows how he wants it to end. Well, I think he's written one of them now. I don't know when it comes out, but I'd assume soon."

Based on Martin's writing pace, fans have reached the conclusion that the next instalment in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series will be published as soon as 2016.

A delay in releasing "Winds of Winter" has many fans speculating if the series would choose a different storyline than that intended by Martin, and Coster-Waldau commented that it was a strong possibility.

"All the details, [the showrunners are] going to have to come up with them themselves," Coster-Waldau said. "It's going to be interesting because I think the show is going to finish before the last book comes out. There'll be quite a big difference when it does."

So how will the show, which will return for its fifth season on 12 April, end? A quick search of fan forums throws up a lot of interesting conclusions; here are our top three possibilities.

• Daenerys comes out this winner and finally claims the Iron Throne. But it won't be the same kingdom as before, as the war would have destroyed most of Westeros.
• There will be a final clash between some of the lead characters such as Jon Snow, Daenerys, Tyrion and his brother Jaime, and not all of them are going to survive.
• Jon Snow and Daenerys will join forces. There have been speculations that Jon Snow is actually the son of Ned Stark's sister Lyanna and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Daenerys' oldest brother, making Jon an heir to the throne.