“Game of Thrones” and “Westworld” will not have panels at San Diego Comic-Con this summer, HBO said Thursday, citing production schedules as conflicting with the multi-day pop culture event.
“Due to production schedules and air dates for ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Westworld,’ these series will not be presented at San Diego Comic-Con this summer,” the network said in a statement. “HBO has a longstanding relationship with SDCC, and we are very grateful for the fans’ enthusiastic response over the years. We look forward to returning in the future.”
This is the first time “Game of Thrones” will be absent from the convention. The wildly popular drama will air its eighth and final season in 2019. “Westworld” made its Comic-Con debut at last year’s convention, and its Season 2 finale airs June 24. Production on Season 3 has yet to begin on the drama, so there would probably be little to promote for “Westworld.”
The 2019 premiere date for Season 8 of “Game of Thrones” has yet to be announced. With no “Game of Thrones” airing in 2018, fans will have to continue the wait for winter with the show’s absence from Comic-Con.
Last week, HBO announced that one of the prequel projects has been picked up to pilot. The untitled project, from George R. R. Martin and “Kingsman” screenwriter Jane Goldman, is set thousands of years before the events of the current “Game of Thrones” series in the era known as the “Age of Heroes.”