The 1 Reason Jaime Lannister Will Look Totally Different When ‘Game of Thrones’ Returns

We are still one year away from the premiere of the final season of Game of Thrones. However, HBO and some of the actors have been giving us little breadcrumbs about what we can expect to see when the epic television series returns. At this point, it looks like Westeros could either go up in flames or get frozen in the Long Night. Either way, we should be prepared for a bitter and gory end.

The most ambitious episodes ever

We’ll be seeing more giant dragons in season 9. | HBO

HBO is waiting until 2019 for us to see how Game of Thrones ends for a very important reason. The final six episodes will all be feature-length. In fact, the last season of GoT is so ambitious that it will cost HBO $15 million per episode.

GoT sound designer Paula Fairfield told Vanity Fair, “There were more dragon scenes in Season 7 than in any of the other seasons combined, and we can only expect there to be even more in Season 8 as our heroes gather around Daenerys [Targaryen] for the Great War to come.”

A million dollar castle

Fans are hoping for an epic battle scene. | HBO

Though HBO is trying to keep details of Season 8 from leaking, fans are desperate for any information that they can find. Therefore, it was no surprise when set photos from a newly built castle in Belfast, Ireland hit the internet.

According to Digital Spy, the castle cost HBO £1 million to build, and it is the most expensive project of its kind in Northern Ireland.

We’re not sure what it all means yet, but the castle could set the stage for some massive battles like the one at Hardhome or Stormborn.

Next: A brand new bold appearance

A very hairy Lannister

He looked quite different. | HBO

When we first met Jaime Lannister in the freshman season of Game of Thrones, he was rocking shoulder-length hair and a clean-shaven face. However, that all changed at the end of season three. Jaime returned to King’s Landing with a short haircut and a missing arm.

Coster-Waldau told ShortList, “He was due a haircut. Especially after spending two seasons dragged through the mud. There was a big change in the character, so a haircut is a way to signal that.”

For the final season of GoT, Jaime’s look is going in an entirely different direction. Coster-Waldau revealed, “I’m shooting the last season of Thrones. Generally speaking, I’m not crazy-hairy, but I have a full beard. Call me Hairy Styles.”

Next: A kind-hearted Lannister

Turning over a new leaf

Jaime’s character might be drastically changing. | HBO

Many of us were still reeling from Jaime’s decision to turn his back on his sister, Cersei Lannister — something we never saw coming. Coster-Waldau told ShortList that after seven seasons, he’s finally starting to get some love from GoT fans. People always say to me, “I used to hate you, now I’m kind of rooting for you. That’s what makes it fun.”

The last time we saw the Kingslayer, he was abandoning Cersei at King’s Landing and heading out to join forces with his bearded brother Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, and Jon Snow to fight the White Walkers and the Army of the Dead. Perhaps the beard represents Jaime turning over a new leaf and being a good Lannister like Tyrion.

Next: Dragon’s fire

A very dark ending

Something big is coming. | HBO

On the DVD commentary for season 7, Game of Thrones executives dropped clues about what we will see in Season 8. On the DVD, you can hear creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss specifically asking for Cersei’s map room to have an open ceiling.

VFX producer Steve Kullback said, “[They] asked us to make [the map room] an exterior location in an upcoming episode, but I can’t tell you why… but that’ll pay off.”

If the Golden Company doesn’t swoop in and save the day, Danys dragon’s could be the end of Cersei and King’s Landing. If you recall from Season 4, that was Bran’s premonition anyway.