Already Worried About Game of Thrones Withdrawals? Here's When the Prequel May Start

If you're already looking for ways to get your Game of Thrones fix after the final season ends, look no further than the upcoming prequel series. First announced in June 2018, the sequel is still technically untitled, but The Long Night is a popular possibility. We don't know too much about the prequel yet, but more and more details are slowly getting released. One detail that isn't among them? A definitive premiere date.

While we don't know exactly when the prequel will air, we can make some guesses based on available news thus far. According to Casey Bloys, HBO's programming president, production on the pilot is set to begin in early Summer. He also previously stated that the prequel won't air until at least a year after the original ends. Since Game of Thrones ends this May, that means the earliest the show could start is in 2020 — sometime in the Summer or Fall if we take the "year after" comment literally. If the production is particularly extensive, a later 2021 start date could be possible as well.

We do know other show details, however, like who'll be in it. Leading the cast is Naomi Watts playing a socialite with a dark secret, but as with Game of Thrones, it looks like we're in store for a sizable ensemble. Unfortunately, the prequel is set to take place long before the events of its predecessor, which means beloved characters like Jon, Daenerys, Cersei, and everyone else we've been watching for eight seasons most likely won't make an appearance.

If you're worried that not seeing your favourite characters will make the series feel too different, just know that George R. R. Martin created it, along with screenwriter Jane Goldman. Incorporating the A Song of Ice and Fire author's ideas might just mean that the prequel will feel familiar for everyone who still needs a little Game of Thrones in their lives. And hopefully it comes sooner rather than later!