Game of Thrones Could Last Longer Than You Think (But Jon Snow Is Still Dead)

Game of Thronesgiveth and it taketh away.

At the Television Critics Association fall previews on Thursday, HBO programming president Michael Lombardo said that the series will not necessarily end after the rumored seven seasons.

"That's definitely open," he said. "I think 'seven seasons and out' has never been the conversation. The question is, how many beyond the seventh season we're going to do. Obviously we're shooting six now and hopefully discussing seven. They're feeling like there are probably two more years after six. I would love them to change their minds, but that's what we're looking at right now."

Jon Snow has to be alive, according to these pictures

Eight seasons would be at least one more season than there are corresponding books planned in the series written by George R.R. Martin. Despite that heartening news, Lombardo didn't have glad tidings for fans of a certain bastard who was betrayed and stabbed last season. "Dead is dead is dead," he said. "Yes, everything I've seen, heard and read... Jon Snow is indeed dead."

We're sure that will be the end of the conversation. Unless you're a follower of one of those other Thrones religions that believe that "The dead can never die" or that the Red God has the power of resurrection. (Or you've seen those paparazzi pics of Kit Harington in Belfast.)

Game of Thrones' sixth season returns sometime in the spring of 2016.

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