Share

Game of Thrones renewed for 4th season

Los Angeles - Epic medieval-fantasy drama series Game of Thrones will return for a fourth season, US cable channel HBO confirmed on Tuesday.

The critically acclaimed show - which chronicles the myriad power struggles in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos - returned for its third season on 31 March.

HBO spokesperson Quentin Schaffer told AFP the series would likely begin filming later this year, which would put it on course for a release date in 2014.

"We are picking it up for 10 episodes. It will likely be back in production this summer," Schaffer said.

Piracy

Based on A Song of Ice and Fire, the series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones has become one of the most talked-about series on US television since its debut in 2011.

The first episode of the third season broadcast in the US on Sunday attracted 4.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode in the series' short history.

The show has also become the most pirated television series in the world. According to website Torrentfreak, the final episode of the second series in 2012 was illegally downloaded by some 4.3 million people.

"I probably shouldn't be saying this, but it is a compliment of sorts," HBO director of programming Michael Lombardo said in a recent interview.

"The demand is there. And it certainly didn't negatively impact the DVD sales. (Piracy is) something that comes along with having a wildly successful show on a subscription network."

* The third season of Game of Thrones premieres in South African television on M-Net on 12 April at 21:30

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE