Game of Thrones still appears to be riding high from that ice block–melting stunt. Over the weekend, more promotional nuggets for the HBO fantasy series were provided to starving fans who continue to eagerly await the show’s delayed season premiere.
Most significantly for viewers, the pay-cabler announced the casting of chart-smashing Ed Sheeran, who is reportedly the principal object of GoT star Maisie Williams’ musical affection. “For years we were trying to get Ed Sheeran on the show to surprise Maisie and this year we finally did it,” co-showrunner David Benioff revealed Sunday at a South by Southwest panel. Sheeran’s role was not disclosed, but he joins in a proud GoT tradition, following in the footsteps of Sigur Rós and Coldplay’s Will Champion. The show’s producers also revealed at the event that Game of Thrones’ eighth and final season, to premiere in 2018, will consist of only six installments, bringing the show’s remaining episode count to 13.
Later on Sunday, it was confirmed via Twitter that Williams and Sophie Turner, who play siblings Arya and Sansa Stark, will appear on the upcoming Carpool Karaoke series for Apple Music. No word on whether they’ll tackle Game of Thrones’ grim, mournful soundtrack, but it would certainly make their episode a distinct one.
With new information trickling out steadily now, the Game of Thrones machine is revving back up again. Enjoy your Big Little Lies and Girls think pieces while they last, readers, because soon it will once again be all GoT, all the time.
