For Game of Thrones fans disappointed when it was announced that the upcoming seventh season would be a mere seven episodes long (that's three less than the usual 10), there is new hope.
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HBO has revealed that the much-anticipated season premiere will run for 59 minutes, making it the show's longest premiere since its original pilot.
In comparison, season six's premiere capped off at 50 minutes, with the average GOT season premiere being about 55 minutes.
Fans have taken the news and run with it, convinced that the shortened season hints at an overall increase in the length and scope of each episode.
The cast themselves have been dropping similar clues, with Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen on the show, telling EW: "When I first read this season, I thought: 'Damn, I gotta learn some lines!'," confirming that the cast is "actually filming longer now".
Co-star Peter Dinklage seemed to agree, saying that "I've worked more days this season than I have in quite some time."
While the show's creators have previously spoken about the increased per-episode budget of the upcoming season, co-showrunner D.B. Weiss had a more practical explanation as to why the cast may feel like they are working harder and longer.
"You kill a couple dozen characters, the people who are left by default need to carry more dramatic weight," he said.
Game of Thrones season seven premieres on Foxtel's Showcase on July 17.
