'Game Of Thrones': Season 8 May Be The Last; HBO Hopes For 10 And Open To Prequel Ideas

The “Game of Thrones” TV series may come to an end with Season 8, despite HBO's wishes, says President of Programming Michael Lombardo.

Lombardo confirmed that the popular TV series will not come to an end by Season 7 and that the producers expect it to continue until at least 2018, Collider reported. “I would love for them to change their minds, but that’s what we’re looking at right now,” Lombardo said. HBO reportedly wants 10 seasons.

Even with the TV show possibly coming to an end with Season 8, the franchise could still continue with a prequel series. Lombardo left that choice to executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and said he would be “open” to anything that they might propose to continue the franchise. The report notes that the world of Westeros is “incredibly rich” with many stories that remain unexplored.

The “Game of Thrones” TV show is based on “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series by George R.R. Martin. He author has also written other books in the same fantasy world, but in different timelines. Some of his books based in Westeros include “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” “The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel” and “The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones.”

HBO has so far not had any conversation with Benioff and Weiss about prequel shows, Entertainment Weekly reports. Lombardo also noted the controversies the show has generated with its graphic and violent scenes. “This show has had violence from the first episode. I can’t speak to any single person’s particular taste, but I think the show is phenomenal,” Lombardo said

Lombardo also asserted that the producers have been careful not to overstep “what they think is the line.” “Game of Thrones” Season 6 recently began filming and the premiere episode is expected to air sometime in April 2016.