Oh No! The 'Game Of Thrones' Delay Is Way Worse Than We Thought | HuffPost

Oh, sweet summer child ...

By

Entertainment Editor, HuffPost

HBO

Winter is here, and it’s killing us.

We already heard that “Game of Thrones” production was going to be delayed for colder weather, but oh, sweet summer child, this is worse than anyone thought. In a new press release, HBO confirms Season 7 will be only seven episodes, and instead of the usual spring premiere, next season won’t debut until Summer 2017.

HBO’s president of programming, Casey Bloys, made it official in a press release:

“Now that winter has arrived on GAME OF THRONES, executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss felt that the storylines of the next season would be better served by starting production a little later than usual, when the weather is changing. Instead of the show’s traditional spring debut, we’re moving the debut to summer to accommodate the shooting schedule.”

The news is surprising because it means “Game of Thrones” might be taking itself out of contention for the 2017 Emmy Awards. Typically, Emmy eligible episodes need to air before May 31, so if the show debuts in the summer ― which begins June 21, 2017 ― it will miss the cutoff.

(Also, what are we going to do with our lives?)

The show has received 23 Emmy nominations this year, the most of any program, so if “GoT” doesn’t make the deadline next year it’s going to open up a lot of spots for other dramas. HBO is probably running out of shelf space anyway.

Other info from the release explains that production will mainly take place in Northern Ireland, though Spain and Iceland will also be shooting locations, and that Mark Mylod, Jeremy Podeswa, Matt Shakman and Alan Taylor are confirmed directors.

Hold on, fans. Season 7 is coming. Eventually ...

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Before You Go

'Game of Thrones' Season 6

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Bran ... uh ... standing!?(03 of35)

Psst! Hey, Isaac Hempstead Wright. Bran can't walk. Remember? (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

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Dany is looking like she's had better days.(07 of35)

You'd probably look the same if you were captured by Dothraki. But that dragon jewelry, though! (credit:Macall B. Polay/courtesy of HBO)

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Welp, looks like these two are alive.(09 of35)

Uh ... spoiler? (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

And welp, looks like Myrcella isn't.(10 of35)

Jaime and Cersei need to have a talk. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Jaime has some bad news for Cersei.(11 of35)

#Awkward (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Melisandre is perhaps on her way to resurrect Jon Snow?(12 of35)

Carice van Houten has places to be. And people to resurrect. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Davos possibly looking at Jon Snow being resurrected?(13 of35)

OK, we get Stannis is dead and Shireen got sacrificed, but gosh. Lighten up, bro. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Myrcella is doing her best Joffrey impression.(14 of35)

She dead. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Looks like Margaery is having a run-in with the "Shame Nun."(15 of35)

Shame on HBO for doing this to Natalie Dormer. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

The High Sparrow probably has some things to tell Margaery, too.(16 of35)

And it's probably, "Shame!" (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Arya is still looking pretty blind.(17 of35)

Where's all the oysters, clams and cockles? (credit:Macall B. Polay/courtesy of HBO)

The dream team is back.(18 of35)

Tyrion and Varys run this town. (credit:Macall B. Polay/courtesy of HBO)

Ramsay looks bummed.(19 of35)

Dude, we get you want to rule the North, but stop acting like a drama queen. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Something's getting their attention.(20 of35)

What are the Boltons looking at? Rachael Leigh Cook must've taken off her glasses and walked down the stairs like in "She's All That" or something. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Sam and Gilly going on adventures.(21 of35)

#RelationshipGoals (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Balon Greyjoy is ... still alive for some reason.(22 of35)

Easiest way to stay alive in "Game of Thrones" is to just not appear on screen for a while. Keep doing your thing, Gendry ... wherever the heck you are. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Yara Going-To-Have-A-Big-Season-6 Greyjoy(23 of35)

Yara's probably thinking, "Dang. Dad's still alive, and I didn't get him anything for his bday."

Don't sweat it, Yara. As long as you don't give him that box with Theon's "little Theon" in it, I'm sure he'll like whatever. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Brienne is back!(24 of35)

We've got a new king slayer on our hands. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

Missandei is probably still thinking about her appearance in "Furious 7."(25 of35)

She doesn't have friends. She's got family. And actually she doesn't have family, either. (credit:Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)

With so many spoilers, Tyrion has a lot on his mind.(26 of35)

Or he's also just thinking about Missandei's "Furious 7" appearance.

Ride or die. (credit:Macall B. Polay/courtesy of HBO)

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