Game of Thrones director reveals next season will have just seven episodes

Coming to an end: Game of Thrones will have half the number of episodes in Season 7
HELEN SLOAN / HBO
Jennifer Ruby3 June 2016

A Game of Thrones director has revealed that the next season of the show will feature just seven episodes.

Jack Bender, who has helmed two episodes of the current season, has admitted that it was unlikely that he would be returning for series seven as there won’t be enough episodes to direct.

When asked if he would be returning to the smash hit show in an interview with Vanity Fair, he said: “I don’t know the answer to that.

“They’re only doing seven [episodes], and they’ve got their regulars who have done it forever.”

While most seasons of the HBO show have 13 episodes, which is standard for US programmes, this could mean that season seven has been split in two.

Prompting speculation that the show will come to an end in 2018, Bender’s revelations could mean that seven episodes will air next year and seven the year after.

Bender, who has directed episodes of shows including Lost and The Sopranos, is already working on a new project.

“I know that I had a wonderful experience doing the show and I know that Dan and David are thrilled with the shows, but I’ve got this series I’m mounting for the beginning of 2017 based on Stephen King’s trilogy of books, starting with Mr. Mercedes,” he said.

Despite being busy, Bender admitted that he’d been keen to return to the hit HBO show if he were asked.

“I haven’t been asked yet and I also don’t know what their schedule is going to be. But under the best of circumstances, schedule and everything,” he said.

“I had a great experience doing the show. If available and they wanted me to, I would love to do that.”

Game of Thrones: Season 6

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