"Game of Thrones" executive producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss had earlier said they wanted to wrap up the show by season 7. But according to HBO's president of programming Michael Lombardo, the show could stretch as far as the eighth season.
Addressing critics during the 2015 Summer TCA press tour, Lombardo said there are probably two more seasons after season 6, which is currently filming.
"I think 'seven seasons and out' has never been the conversation," Lombardo said, according to E!Online. "The question is how much beyond the seventh season we're going to do. Obviously we're shooting six now and hopefully discussing seven. They're feeling like they're probably two more years after six. I've said before, I would always love for them to change their minds but that's what we're looking at right now."
When asked if fans can look forward to a prequel, which would explore the story of the Mad King and the Targaryens, Lombardo said they haven't had any conversations about it just yet. But ultimately everything would depend upon what executive producers Benioff and Weiss, and author George RR Martin would want to do.
At this point, Lombardo said, the focus was on the upcoming seasons of the fantasy series based on Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" books.
"I would be open to anything that Dan and David wanted to do about Game of Thrones or almost any subject matter," Lombardo said. "It would really depend fully for us on what they wanted to do. I think you're right, there's enormous storytelling to be mined in a prequel. But you'd have to have George and Dan and David decide they want to tackle that."
Interestingly, HBO's president of programming was also questioned about the season 5 finale shocker – Jon Snow's death. While a good number of fans believe Jon Snow will somehow survive the assault, Lombardo wasn't as optimistic.
"Dead is dead is dead is dead. He be dead," Lombardo said. "Yes. Everything I've seen, heard or read, Jon Snow is dead."
