WATCH: The Game of Thrones season 7 teaser trailer is here!

Los Angeles - Game of Thrones will be back in action in July.

HBO said on Thursday that the series will return for its seventh season on 16 July .

The season will be the next-to-last for the fantasy saga based on George RR Martin's novels. It will include seven episodes instead of the usual 10 and is debuting later than seasons past. They had usually begun in spring.

Returning cast members include Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke.

The delayed debut date for Game of Thrones means it will miss the deadline for the 2017 Emmy Awards, a contest it routinely dominates. Last year, the drama series scored a dozen Emmys.

Watch the trailer here:

Catch up on Game of Thrones season 1 to 6 on Showmax now!