Game of Thrones Season 7 Will Premiere Later Than Usual

The Season 6 finale of Game of Thrones isn't even a fortnight old, but it's never too early to get ready for Season 7, right? However, it appears we'll have to wait a little longer than normal this time around.

Game of Thrones creators and mixed-martial arts fans David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were guests on a recent UFC podcast hosted by comedian Jim Norton and UFC fighter Matt Serra, and in addition to the usual chit-chat about how horrible Joffrey was, how amazing the Battle of the Bastards was, and if they know how the show will end (they do), the topic of Season 7's premiere date came up. And the show's typical April start date -- only Season 3, which premiered on March 31, didn't start in April -- is likely off the table.

When asked if we could expect Season 7 next April, the creators essentially said no, and admitted they didn't have a premiere date yet. But there's a good reason for the possible delay, and it's all about winter.

According to Weiss: "We don't have an air date yet, but next year will probably be a little bit later. We're starting a little bit later because, you know, the end of the season 'Winter is here,' and that means sunny weather doesn't really serve our purposes anymore. So we kind of pushed everything down the line so we can get some grim grey weather, even in the sunnier places we shoot."

TVGuide.com reached out to HBO, which had no comment.

In Game of Thrones lore, the season of winter doesn't last three months like ours does. In fact, seasons in Westeros are unpredictable and can last many years. The House Stark motto of "Winter is Coming" isn't just a slogan; it's a warning, as the winter season is brutal and can spell doom for those who live in northern Westeros. And it appears Benioff and Weiss are letting mother nature help them bring the harsh season to life. Which is awesome.

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Elsewhere in the podcast, Weiss and Benioff confirmed that there would be two more seasons with a shortened episode count, but didn't say how many episodes were left because they don't know. Readers of the Song of Ice and Fire books on which the show is based should also be happy, as Weiss and Benioff confirmed, "The books are so different from the series now."

And most importantly, Benioff confirmed where Gendry (Joe Dempsie) -- last seen rowing away from Dragonstone in Season 3 -- is. "He's still rowing," he said. "Think of the shape he's in after rowing for four seasons. Big lats." Sounds like he'll be ready to join UFC!

Are you okay with waiting for Season 7 if it means realistic weather?