Ahead of Game of Thrones‘ eighth and final season, HBO has revealed who will be handling directorial duties for the dark fantasy’s final six episodes. The studio elected to pull out the big guns for the show’s swan songs, with names that fans of the series will definitely recognize, including David Nutter, Miguel Sapochnik, and the creator/showrunner duo of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
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Nutter’s work on the series consists of six entries, most notably the third season’s finale. Titled “The Rains of Castamere,” the episode contained the now infamous Red Wedding, one of the medieval drama’s most iconic scenes. Nutter also helmed the final two episodes of Season 5, including “Mother’s Mercy,” which saw Jon Snow’s shocking — albeit temporary — death at the hands of his fellow Night’s Watchmen.
Similarly, Sapochnik has his share of many of the show’s other standout moments. The director’s resume includes Season Five’s frost zombie extravaganza “Hardhome,” and the final two episodes of Game of Thrones‘ sixth season, “Battle of the Bastards” and “The Winds of Winter.” With his pension for handling the more sprawling moments of the series, odds are that when the final season’s bigger battle sequences erupt (perhaps when Cersei’s Golden Company of mercenaries crosses paths with our heroes) will be orchestrated under the watchful eye of Sapochnik.
Finally, showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will reportedly helm the show’s series finale. Although typically just in charge of overseeing the writer’s room and scripting the bulk of the show’s more significant episodes, the two have directed one episode each since the show’s inception. Benioff directed “Walk of Punishment” during the series’ third season, and Weiss helmed the Season Four premiere, “Two Swords.”
Game of Thrones’ final season has yet to be given a release date, but the penultimate season is now available in its entirety on HBO Go and HBO Now. Based on George R.R. Martin’s bestselling fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, the hit drama stars Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen and Kit Harington as Jon Snow.