Game Of Thrones season eight: Teaser trailer FINALLY reveals show's release date... as it's announced that it will be simulcast live in the US and the UK
- The hit HBO show will return on April 14, it was revealed on Monday
- It will be simulcast in the US on April 14 at 9pm, and in the UK at 2am on April 15
- The series, which is based on George R.R. Martin's A Song Of Ice And Fire book franchise, will feature six episodes that are over 60 minutes each in length
- Speaking to Variety last week, HBO chief Richard Plepler called it 'a spectacle'
- The teaser focuses on Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) as the trio convene in Winterfell
- Named the Crypts Of Winterfell, the clip was directed by David Nutter, who is in the director's chair for three of the final six episodes
- In November, David revealed that the series is full of 'shocking moments' that are sure to delight fans, and said he was 'completely satisfied' with the ending
Game Of Thrones' eighth, and final, season will return on April 14, it was revealed on Monday.
The news was announced exactly three months before the show is released, in a chilling teaser trailer that hinted at the Stark's battle for Winterfell.
Fans will be delighted by the prospect of finally getting to see how the battle for Westeros pans out, as it was also announced that the series will be simulcast in the US on April 14 at 9pm, and in the UK at 2am on April 15.
Game Of Thrones season eight: Teaser trailer FINALLY revealed show's release date on Monday... and it was announced that it WILL be simulcast live in the US and the UK
The series, which is based on George R.R. Martin's A Song Of Ice And Fire book franchise, will feature six episodes that are expected to be over 60 minutes each in length each.
Speaking to Variety last week, HBO chief Richard Plepler admitted: 'It's a spectacle. The guys have done six movies. The reaction I had while watching them was, "I'm watching a movie."'
'They knew the bar was high. They’ve exceeded the bar. I’ve watched [the episodes] twice without any CGI and I’m in awe. Everybody’s in for an extraordinary treat of storytelling and of magical, magical production.'
The teaser trailer keeps its focus on beloved characters Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) as the trio convene at the crypts below their ancestral home of Winterfell.
Game Of Thrones' eighth, and final, season will return on April 14, and the news came exactly three months before the show will be released
What a send off: The teaser trailer keeps its focus on beloved characters Jon Snow, Sansa and Arya Stark as the trio convene at the crypts below their ancestral home of Winterfell
Walking past the statues that stand vigil over their family's tombs their ancestor's voices can be heard, as what they've said in previous seasons is brought to light once more.
'You have to protect him,' Jon's real mother, and sister to Ned Stark (Sean Bean), Lyanna whispers.
As the King In The North walks beside her, his movement disturbs the feather in her hands, the one that was placed there by her fiancé King Robert Baratheon in the show's very first episode.
Sansa then walks past her mother Catelyn's tomb, as her disjointed voice utters: 'All this horror that has come to my family,' she says, as she references Jon, 'It's all because I couldn't love a motherless child.'
Heritage: Walking past the statues that stand vigil over their family's tombs their ancestor's voices can be heard as Jon's real mother Lyanna whispers 'You have to protect him'
Eerie: Sansa then walks past her mother Catelyn's tomb, as her disjointed voice utters: 'All this horror that has come to my family, it's all because I couldn't love a motherless child'
As Jon walks past Ned's statue, the former Lord Of Winterfell can be heard saying: 'You are a Stark, you may not have my name, but you have my blood.'
Ned had always attested that Jon was his child, born out of wedlock after he cheated on his beloved wife Catelyn, but at the end of season seven this was revealed not to be the case.
A revelation that had been a popular theory for some time amongst fans for some time, it was announced Lyanna shared Jon with Daenerys' older brother Prince Rhaegar Targaryen after they married in secret.
The pair died prior to the events featured in Game Of Thrones, but it does mean that Jon is in fact Daenerys' nephew, and also a rightful heir to the Iron Throne.
King In The North: As Jon walks past Ned's statue, the former Lord Of Winterfell can be heard saying: 'You are a Stark, you may not have my name, but you have my blood'
Ominous: In the trailer, Jon and Sansa are joined by Arya, now a skilled assassin
In the trailer, Jon and Sansa are joined by Arya, now a skilled assassin, before they discover three eerie statues of themselves.
Hinting at their potential deaths in the final season, each stares in awe of their stone counterparts before an ice-cold wind grabs their attention once more.
Jon and Arya draw their swords Longclaw and Needle as Sansa stands behind them, as frost, representing the ominous White Walkers, edges closer towards them.
As they prepare to face off against the chilling, other-worldly presence, the fog surrounds them before the trailer fades to black.
What could it mean? Hinting at their potential deaths in the final season, each stares in awe of their stone counterparts
Hints: The statue of Jon was of a much older man
The teaser, named the Crypts Of Winterfell was directed by David Nutter, who is in the director's chair for three of the final six episodes.
In November, David revealed that the series is full of 'shocking moments' that are sure to delight fans.
He explained: 'I've never directed an opening episode of GOT before until season 8, but I think it's really important to make a splash. But you have to entertain, that's what's most important. I'm completely satisfied with how season eight ends.'
David continued: 'I guarantee there's going to be lots of surprises and shocking moments, but it's really very compelling stuff.'
Winter is coming: An ice-cold wind grabs their attention once more
Spine-tingling: A frost, representing the ominous White Walkers, edges closer towards them
Actress Gwendoline Christie has previously joked that fans will 'need therapy' after watching the 'incredibly emotional' season finale.
While, in an interview with the Guardian in October, Maisie said her final scene was 'beautiful' but said that her character was alone because 'Arya's always b****y alone'.
Kit admitted that not everyone will be pleased with how the show ends as he told MTV News: 'I think a TV series that's spanned eight, nine years is an incredibly difficult thing to end.'
While Nathalie Emmanuel, who portrays Daenerys' right-hand woman Missandei, has suggested fans 'will have their mind blown' by the fantasy epic's forthcoming final outing.
Preparing for battle: Jon and Arya draw their swords Longclaw and Needle as Sansa stands behind them, as frost, representing the ominous White Walkers, edges closer towards them
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