Game of Thrones Season 6: Everything to Know

One of the few problems of watching (or honestly obsessing, as we tend to do) with a series like Game of Thrones is that its joyous annual induction of spring lasts only a brief 10 weeks. Aye, in less than three months, our summer joys turn to wintry snow, and the long wait for Game of Thrones season 6 begins.

Thus with 10 hours of triumph, tragedy, and other unfortunate things, season five has concluded (as we have explored with spoilerish detail in our review here), and our Watch for Game of Thrones season 6 has begun. Yet, it need not be an uneventful one, as casting breakdown announcements, shooting production news, and all manner of rumors have already been released by HBO and Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. So, as they venture now far past the reassuring safety of George R.R. Martin’s sturdy literary Wall, and we already begin making our own educated guesses about what will happen in season six, let’s see what actually waits for them Beyond…

Game of Thrones Season 6 Premiere Date

While obviously not the first concrete bit of news we have (which you can read below), the most urgent question for many fans is of course be when will the series return with its dragonfire in 2016. While HBO will not announce such a date until sometime well into next year, we feel we can pretty confidently predict it (or at least within a week) based on the recent past three seasons’ premieres and their correlation with Easter.

The single time that Game of Thrones both aired before the first Sunday of April and on Easter was during the season three premiere of March 31, 2013—which also did not debut nearly as well as season four or five. Notably since then, Game of Thrones has attempted to stay off of Easter whenever possible for its premiere, while circling the first Sunday in April since season two. For example, season four was on the first Sunday in April, but that was also two weeks prior to Easter. Comparatively, season five began this year on the second Sunday of April (the 12^th to be exact), but that was also because Easter was on HBO’s seemingly preferred real estate of April’s first Sunday, the 5^th.

However, since Easter is coming very early next year—March 27, 2016 to be exact—that means the first Sunday of April is blessedly open from major national and religious holidays. Thus, if I were a betting man, the smart money for an educated guess would be that Game of Thrones season six premieres on Sunday, April 3, 2016.

Game of Thrones Season 6 Spoilers and News

So About Jon Snow...

Well, the fate of Jon Snow may be the worst kept secret in television history. While the Bastard of Winterfell, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and all around handsomest bloke this side of the Narrow Sea certainly died at the end of the fifth season of Game of Thrones, few have been convinced he'd stay dead. We certainly haven't been.

In any event, it has mostly been fan speculation...until now. Thanks to our friends from Watchers on the Wall, we have a freshly snapped photo of Kit Harington at the Belfast airport. And for those who don't know, Belfast also just so happens to be the Irish city where Game of Thrones shoots, including the upcoming production of season 6. If Harington is not in the new season, he sure must be getting pretty lonely thinking about how much fun the rest of the cast is having. Good thing he's probably joining them soon...

Kit Harington is in Belfast AGAIN; plus, Irish actor joins Game of Thrones http://t.co/Ka389PuBzg#gameofthronespic.twitter.com/J9snWHg4bB

— Watchers on the Wall (@WatchersOTWall) July 21, 2015

This tends to reconfirm our previous suspicion after Harington was spotted growing out Jon Snow's beautiful locks:

Kit Harington with his brother Jack at Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/zpK1RxLyFx

— Jon Snow (@LordSnow) July 2, 2015

Bran Stark Set to Return

This is news we were all expecting, but welcome nonetheless. After a season's absence, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, aka Bran Stark, will be returning in Game of Thrones season 6. Presumably, that means catching up with Hodor and Meera, too.

The last we saw the second-to-youngest Stark boy, he had finally completed his quest to meet the Three-Eyed Raven and was about to begin another, a training journey with the Children of the Forest which would teach him more about his Warg powers.

Here's what Hempstead-Wright told The Irish Examiner about Bran's return to the show:

“I can’t say a lot, but I am back this season, and it’s going to get particularly interesting with Bran. He has some interesting visions."

Hempstead-Wright continued, "I missed the whole of the last season because it was right in the middle of my exams, so I didn’t have the time to watch it. But I’m looking forward to getting with some friends and binge-watching it all.”

Of the potential return for another former Winterfell dweller, Jon Snow, Hempstead-Wright admitted “I don’t know [if Kit Harrington will return]. He’s said he’s not [...] I wish he would because I love Kit and because the character’s so cool. Who knows? We start filming series six at the end of this month, so we’ll see.”

Both strands have caught up with the books, now, so your guess is as good as ours regarding what happens next.

Stannis is Dead

It was revealed during an EW interview with David Nutter, the director of the season 5 finale, that Stannis Baratheon is indeed dead and that Stephen Dillane will not be returning to the show. His fate was left in doubt after the scene of his presumed death quickly cut away before he could be hacked to pieces by Brienne of Tarth. 

Nutter told EWthat  “From the very beginning, and [through] the script process, that was the intent — he’s dead." The director explained that actually showing the death would have felt “gratuitous.” 

In other news, Nutter shed light on Jon Snow's fate at the end of season 5—another presumed death:

“Three weeks ago, I was the in the company of the President of the United States. He turned to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and said, ‘You didn’t kill Jon Snow did you?’” 

“I said, ‘Jon Snow is deader than dead,’” the director recalls. “I thought I was going to be sent to Guantanamo or something, but fortunately I’m here — but he’s dead.”

Nutter added that Obama also complained, “You keep killing off my favorite characters.”

Even the POTUS isn't happy about this.

Game of Thrones Season 6 Casting

So, it looks like the casting for Game of Thrones season 6 is going to be coming quickly as the majority of principal photography approaches. Indeed, we now have our first bit of official casting with the character he's supposed to play attached:

Legendary actor Max von Sydow of The Exorcist and The Seventh Seal (he is also set to appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens) has been cast as the wizardly force viewers thus far know as the Three-Eyed Raven. Revealed via Entertainment Weekly, von Sydow will personify the tutor that teaches Bran Stark "to fly," after luring the young Stark beyond the Wall with his magical three-eyed bird. The character has actually already appeared in the fourth season finale, but it is being left to the most famous actor to battle supernatural forces to now pass on that ability to young Stark.

The magazine website also confirms that von Sydow will have a limited role in the new season, much like Ian McShane's mystery part (which you can read all about, including our theory of who he is, below). However, does this indicate that Bran Stark will have a truncated effect on Game of Thrones' new season? Again? Or perhaps, Bran will just be graduating his wizarding school of witchcraft faster than his magical pop culture peers?

Meanwhile, it's also official that Ian McShane is joining the cast of Game of Thrones season 6. However, HBO has played coy about what role McShane will be taking other than one of "key importance."

This naturally invites our speculation. And considering the casting announcements from earlier this year, I have a fairly nifty theory about who he might be: Randyll Tarly of Horn Hill, aka Samwell Tarly's not-so-happy papa.

HBO released a casting call earlier this year that stated they were looking for an actor "aged 50s to 60, he’s one of the greatest soldiers in Westeros—a humorless martinet, severe and intimidating. He demands martial discipline in the field and in his home."

Also described as a "good part," this seems to check off a lot of boxes for McShane who has worked previously with HBO as the malicious and enigmatic entrepreneur/crime lord of Deadwood . That role won McShane an Emmy and earned him a place in pop culture history as the deliciously nasty Al Swearengen. However, for all his cruelty, I'd never describe Al as "humorless."

In A Feast for Crows, Randyll Tarly appears as an obstacle in Brienne of Tarth's path through the riverlands. However, since Brienne is already outside of Winterfell on the TV series, we imagine he will be used in a different capacity. It should be said that Randyll Tarly also supported the Lannisters only so far as his liege lord was Mace Tyrell. After Cersei has the Sparrows imprison Margaery, however, he marches on King's Landing and holds a seat of power that disquiets Ser Kevan Lannister, because he is much more dangerous than Mace (last seen singing Italian-esque love songs to Braavos in the season 5 finale).

Of course, we'll have to wait and see if this is the role McShane has actually landed...

At the very least, we know the major parts that HBO has had a casting call for (thanks to Vanity Fair and Watchers on the Wall). Some of the characters listed will obviously only be for guest spots or background supporting work. However, a few caught our eyes as potential Game of Thrones season six plot spoilers, as well as a hint of even more of the wars to come.

Thus the new roles looking to be cast are…

Pirate: “Man in his 40s to late 50s. He’s ‘an infamous pirate who has terrorized seas all around the world. Cunning, ruthless, with a touch of madness.’ He’s a dangerous-looking man. A very good part this season.”

If I had to wager a guess about this one being “a very good part,” it means that it will be a major recurring character. And while the last two seasons of Game of Thrones have very wisely chosen to excise the Greyjoy dullards from the adaptation, there is still one Greyjoy we’d love to see: his name is Euron, and he is essentially Blackbeard meets James Purefoy’s version of Marc Antony. This could mean a return to the Iron Islands or—preferably—they combine his storyline with the duller Victarion Greyjoy (Balon and Euron’s brother), and Euron winds up in Meereen with a ship waiting to take Daenerys and her dragons to Westeros. After all, Dany has to be crossing the Narrow Sea soon….right?

Father: “Aged 50s to 60s, he’s one of the greatest soldiers in Westeros—a humorless martinet, severe and intimidating. He demands martial discipline in the field and in his home. It’s described as ‘a very good part’ for next year and that he’s ‘centrally involved’ in a protagonist’s storyline.”

His Family: “Mother in her 50s. She’s a sweet, plump, and adoring mother, and has a soft spot for one of her children who benefits from her decency. Sister in her early 20s. She’s a kind, friendly and unpretentious woman. Brother in his early to mid-20s . Athletic, a good hunter, an excellent swordsman, manly, not particularly bright but the favorite child of the father.”

While I had suspected that they were cutting the Tarly family out of Game of Thrones, save for hapless Samwell of course, it appears that might not be the case. Indeed, the description of the father being “humorless,” “severe,” and demanding of “martial discipline,” all points to Randyll Tarly, who was namedropped recently in season five when Sam and Stannis chatted about dear old dad. Also, the insistence that he is involved in a protagonist’s storyline indicates that he will be part of Sam’s—even though Sam appears to be staying at the Wall for the foreseeable future (unlike his literary counterpart). Perhaps, Randall will show up in King’s Landing, which will still be spinning in political unrest and upheaval after the Lannisters and Tyrells have essentially imploded upon themselves…

Priest: “In his 40s or 50s. A gruff ex-soldier who found religion. Now a no-nonsense rural priest who ministers to the poor of the countryside. He’s salt-of-the-earth man who has weathered many battles.”

Leading Actress: “In her early 40s, she’s an elegant actress with a traveling theatre company. Fun, charismatic, rum-drinking actress in the troupe.”

Priestess: “Mid-20s to early 30s. Any ethnicity—she’s beautiful, intense, and magnetic.”

Fierce Warrior: “A tall man in 30s or 40s with a powerful physique. They’re looking for someone with ‘mixed ethnicity’ for the role.”

Large Boy: “With an actor who is 10-12 but playing 7 or 8. He’s described as ‘a clever boy’ who seems too large for his age. He’s big and tall but not fat. ‘Characterful squat features’ are a plus for this part. It’s specified that this is a one-time appearance.”

12-Year-Old Boy: “With brown hair and blue eyes. He needs to use a Northern accent. He has scenes where he has to spar with a wooden sword. The length of the role isn’t specified.”

7-Year-Old Boy: “With dark brown hair, a narrow face and green eyes. He also has a Northern accent. He also spars with the wooden sword, so it’s safe to assume it’s the same scene. This role is similarly open-ended, the description only stating that the character is being ‘introduced.’”

The trio of boys here is interesting since there is no literary parallel that I can think of in the present for these three children. But at least two of them sound familiar, if much younger. A “large” for his age boy who is handsome and charismatic sounds very much like Robert Baratheon. And the two other boys, one of whom is older than the large child, could indicate perhaps a Targaryen if not for their hair colors. No, I’d suggest that they are young Brandon Stark and Eddard Stark as children. Fans only of the HBO series likely have forgotten, but Ned Stark was actually the younger child; he’s the kid brother of Brandon Stark, a handsome boy who demolished Littlefinger in physical combat, was heir to Winterfell, and enjoyed Catelyn Stark’s hand in marriage until Mad King Aerys II burned him alive before the Iron Throne.

But why would we see them as children since all three are long dead on the series? Well, who is to say that Littlefinger does not possess memories of his own? He already has recently spoken of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen at a joust. Perhaps, Littlefinger, who quietly dismissed Sansa’s accusations of Rhaegar raping Lyanna, will finally be revealing a long gestating secret about all of these young men’s youth, which holds a special meaning for Jon Snow…

Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode Guide

Consider this the barest hint of an outline for Game of Thrones season 6, as the directors for all ten episodes have just been announced, via Entertainment Weekly. There are a number of familiar faces from season 5, too.

Jeremy Podeswa
Directing: Episodes 1 & 2
Season 5 credits: Kill the Boy, Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken Other credits: The Pacific, The Walking Dead, Boardwalk Empire.

David Sackheim Directing: Episodes 3 & 4
Other credits: The X-Files, House, The Americans.

Jack Bender 
Directing: Episodes 5 & 6
Other credits: Lost, Under The Dome, The Last Ship.

Mark Mylod Directing: Episodes 7 & 8
Season 5 credits: High Sparrow, Sons of the Harpy Other credits: Shameless, Entourage.

Miguel Sapochnik
Directing: Episodes 9 & 10
Season 5 credits: Hardhome Other credits: Fringe, True Detective.

Game of Thrones Season 6 Production

It appears that Game of Thrones is headed back to Spain for season six! Indeed, the news was announced via an HBO press release in June and reveals that the premium cable flagship will be shooting in several locations, including the cities Girona and Peñiscola.

Details have also emerged (via Watchers on the Wall) that Game of Thrones season six will be shooting near the castle of Mesa Roldán during this production.

Obviously, this would likely indicate a return to Dorne, which will no doubt be in disarray since the Sand Snakes have just potentially started a war with King's Landing. Also, I imagine we have not seen the last of Braavos or Arya's training to become a Faceless Man. Keeping Needle tells me that the girl will never forget her true name, but her purpose in hardening into a killer of men is far from complete (especially with no eyesight!). And since Game of Thrones is probably not about to head to Italy to shoot on the real Floating City of canals, they'll likely continue using their Spanish backdrops in the sixth season.

Also the series will be shooting at several new Spanish castles: namely, the Bardenas badlands in Navarre, and the castles of Santa Florentina and Zafra, as well as Almeria’s Alcazaba.

The most obvious choice to speculate about these locations is that they're new sides of Dorne that we have not seen before. Yet, the apparently rural and spectualarly harsh, rocky deserts of Navarre leads me to believe that this might be where Daenerys and her new Dothraki companions ride in the new season. Or perhaps it is part of Jorah and Daario's rescue mission to traverse such climates? And the castles...well, when has Game of Thrones not needed a few new castle locations?

That’s all for now, but keep us mind as we keep you posted about all Game of Thrones season six news.