5 Intriguing 'Game of Thrones' Season 6 Newsbits to Help Get You Through the Long Winter Ahead

By Cindy Davis | Game of Thrones | July 21, 2015 |

By Cindy Davis | Game of Thrones | July 21, 2015 |

My word, is it really only mid-July? How will we ever get through the winter? Game of Thrones has only just begun filming its 6th season, and yes, we truly have to wait until April to see any new episodes. *insert heavy sigh here* But hey, just because there’s no footage yet, doesn’t mean goings on aren’t going on; there’s actually quite a few Thrones-related happenings to report. From location shooting inspired fan theories to the return of a favorite character or two, we’ve got all the tidbits that’ll help you get through the long winter the next three minutes.

1. Emmy nominees Lena Headey (who recently welcomed her second child) and Emilia Clarke Say the Season 6 scripts are “exciting” and “sick.”

Headey: “Every year you go ‘What?! Whaaaat!?’ and having read these, it’s the same feeling again … there’s a lot to be very excited about.”

Clarke: “…it’s like go-go-go from episode one. You know how sometimes it’s like, ‘We’re just going to remind you and warm you up: remember this and remember that and I bet you forgot his name …’ sort of thing? [This season] it’s literally like ‘Oh yeah, no chance to catch up, here you go, we’re just gonna hit you with it every episode, with something more mental than the last.’

I can’t handle how sick these scripts are. We actually got the next load in as well and they’re really good. You know that David and Dan are really happy with a script when in the stage directions they just add their own commentary like ‘Yeah, right, bitches, sixth season!’ There’s a lot of that.”

2. Location Shooting at Zafra Castle in Guadalajara, Spain Has Furthered a Fan Theory.

(photo credit: Borjaanimal)

***Book Spoilers, and Possible Game of Thrones Spoilers ahead!***

Remember R + L = J? After Moviesite publicized GoT’s confirmed Season 6 filming locations, reader fans took note of the castle’s resemblance to the Tower of Joy (located in Dorne), the scene of Ned Stark’s promise (widely believed to be Ned’s vow to raise Jon Snow as his own child) to his dying sister, Lyanna. If fan speculation is true and Zafra Castle is the Tower of Joy, we may be in for some flashbacks, which could also mean Ned Stark will return to play out that (and related) scene(s). Fans have combined their speculation with recent HBO casting calls for a knight with a famous sword, who may be Ser Arthur Dayne. If in fact it is Dayne, who Ned is said to have called, “the finest knight he ever saw,” it would lend credence to Zafra being the Tower of Joy — which is also the place where Dayne died (among Ned’s six companions killed during their failed attempt to rescue Lyanna at the Tower). Now that’s a helluva theory, but it holds together just well enough that it could be true. And if it is true, there’s no way Jon Snow is staying dead, despite all the denials. (via Buzzfeed)

Other filming locations announced by HBO are Spain’s Natural Park of the Bardenas, Castillo de Santa Florentina, and Alcazaba of Almeria.

3. Speaking of Snow…Kit Harington Is in Belfast with the Game of Thrones Gang. Again.

Man-bunning it up after arriving on the same plane as Jaqen H’ghar himself (Tom Wlaschiha), Kit Harington’s Jon Snow is definitely presumed dead, forever and ever, amen up to something GoTish. He’s probably just there to film the icky Melisandre resurrection scene funeral.

Watchers on the Wall also shared that Dublin-based Irish actor, Eddie Jackson (Vikings)

has been cast in an unknown Season 6 role, as announced by his management company.

4. Bran and Hodor Are Confirmed to Return for Season 6; Hodor Drops His First Single.

Isaac Hempstead Wright confirmed Bran’s 2016 return to GoT, saying “…it’s going to get particularly interesting with Bran … he has some interesting visions.” And where there’s Bran there’s Hodor (Hodor!), so you can start readying yourself for the silly memes ahead of time. As you probably already know, Kristian Nairn is also a DJ who’s taken his Rave of Thrones tour around the world; as you probably didn’t know, he just dropped his first single, Up:

Everybody Hodor!

5. Brienne of Tarth Shot the Latest Vivienne Westwood Campaign, Continues Her Reign of Awesome.

(photos by Juergen Teller for Vivienne Westwood)

She won our hearts and in only one meeting, caused Hayley Atwell’s nearly inexpressible glee; she’s Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and even the biggest stars are humbled in her presence. So, it’s not at all surprising when a brilliant designer like Vivienne Westwood chooses Gwendoline Christie as the face of her fall campaign — it’s only a mystery how Christie can be so completely compelling with everything she does.

Meanwhile, when asked at Comic-Con how she “blew” her one job — watching for Sansa’s lit help candle in the tower — Christie quipped, “I didn’t blow the candle — I didn’t mean that — what can I say? I had to stand for three months watching a window to wait for a candle. I mean, give me a break..sometimes I just take on a little bit too much. I’m ambitious.” (We say, “No worries; all is forgiven.”)

Cindy Davis, (Twitter)