The cast on HBO‘s "Game of Thrones" have secured contracts through season seven, but all things must come to an end eventually. Last year, the show’s lead writers David Benioff and Dan Weiss revealed that they had started laying groundwork that would see the show end after seventh or eighth season. But perhaps it’s not a surprise that the network wants to see their main cash cow stick around a bit longer.
“We started this journey with David and Dan. It’s their vision. Would I love the show to go 10 years as both a fan and a network executive? Absolutely,” HBO programming president Michael Lombardo told EW, adding “we’ll have an honest conversation that explores all possible avenues. If they weren’t comfortable going beyond seven seasons, I trust them implicitly and trust that’s the right decision —as horrifying as that is to me. What I’m not going to do is have a show continue past where the creators believe where they feel they’ve finished with the story.”
But if you’re thinking that Lombardo will pull the "Let’s Make A Movie" card out of his sleeve (and something author George R. R. Martin has suggested was under discussion), guess again. With the launch of the streaming service HBO NOW, the episodic experience is more crucial than ever, and moreover, the honcho doesn’t want to bait and switch fans.
“Certainly there have been conversations where it’s been said ‘wouldn’t it be cool to do that?’” Lombardo said. “But when you start a series with our subscribers, the promise is that for your HBO fee that we’re going to take you to the end of this. I feel that on some level [a movie would be] changing the rules: Now you have to pay $16 to see how your show ends.”
It seems that HBO is cognizant of the respect they owe their viewers, which is very refreshing. But don’t think that means they won’t find more ways to milk "Game Of Thrones." Just today, the show’s second official mixtape hit iTunes. Below you can check out the tracklist, sample a song and as well as some new images from season five.
“Catch The Throne” Mixtape Vol. 2
1. Method Man – The Oath
2. MNDR – Run for Cover
3. Ty Dolla $ign – Never Back Down
4. Killswitch Engage – Loyalty
5. Kap G – Surrender Now
6. Melanie Fiona – Fight Through It
7. Snoop Dogg – Lannister’s Anthem
8. Yandel – Marcando Territorio
9. Anthrax – Soror Irrumator
10. Estelle – Let Me Go
11. Talib Kweli – Lord of the Light
12. Mastodon – White Walker
13. Raquel Sofia – Legends
14. Stalley – All Mine
15. Mushroomhead – Among the Crows
