Winter is coming and the end of Game Of Thrones is nigh – but fans can take heart from the latest announcement about the eagerly awaited prequel.
HBO has revealed details of cast members, with a host of young rising stars confirmed for early Westeros – including Star Wars actress Naomi Ackie, Olivier award-winner Denise Gough and Fantastic Beasts star Jamie Campbell Bower.
The as yet unnamed series takes place thousands of years before the events in Game Of Thrones, with HBO saying it "chronicles the world's descent from the Age Of Heroes into its darkest hour".
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Other newly announced additions are Sheila Atim, Ivanno Jeremiah, Georgie Henley, Alex Sharp and Toby Regbo, and British director SJ Clarkson has been confirmed to lead the pilot episode.
Fans are advised to forget any preconceived ideas, with this message in a HBO teaser: "From the horrifying secrets of Westeros's history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, only one thing is for sure: it's not the story we think we know."
Little else has been revealed about the prequel or the characters, but we do know the new cast members join Hollywood star Naomi Watts – who will play a lead role as a "charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret" – and Poldark's Josh Whitehouse, who were revealed last year.
The prequel was created by British screenwriter Jane Goldman, alongside the author of the novel series, George RR Martin.
The eighth and final season of Game Of Thrones, which stars Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington and Peter Dinklage, will be broadcast in April.
Game Of Thrones fans – here's a bit more on the faces soon to be filling your TV binges.
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Sky News
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