Here’s the real reason why Game of Thrones isn’t airing until 2019

It's a wait that feels (almost) as long as the Long Night.

Game of Thrones fans were left disappointed when it was recently confirmed that the HBO fantasy epic wouldn't return to television screens until 2019. Many people began to question why the broadcaster would delay the series another year - especially since the eighth and final series is going to be just six episodes. But HBO boss Casey Bloys recently told Entertainment Weekly the reason for the delay - and it turns out it's all down to show runners David Benioff and Dan Weiss. The duo wanted as much time as they could to make the strongest - and most epic - episodes that they possibly could. He explained:

“Here’s what I’ll tell you: They take the time they need to do the show at its highest level of quality. "As the show has gone on, it’s gotten bigger — big battle scenes, big special effects. “These things take time. Here’s the one thing I can assure you: Dan and Dave were not sitting around on a beach waiting to go back to work. "They’re perfectionists and this is the soonest it can come back at a level of quality that they are comfortable with.”

He also gave an update on the five Game of Thrones prequels which are currently being worked on by HBO. And, much like the next season of the show, there will be a long wait for them as well. He added:

“We have some really talented writers working on them. “The one thing I will tell you, which we talked about before, any sort of pilot-to-series [order], there’s not going to be anything on our air for a least a year after Game of Thrones airs. “We’re not using the final season to launch a new show or anything like that. "There’s going to be a separation between the two. These are among the best writers working and I’m hopeful.”