Here's when GOT will officially return for final season

After much speculation, HBO has finally confirmed that "Game of Thrones" wont return for its eighth and final season until 2019.

The network released a statement on Thursday, January 4, 2018, confirming that fans would have to wait a little longer for the final six episodes of the award-winning series.

While they did not specify the release month, 2019 is a gap of more than a year since the end of season seven in 2017.

HBO programming president Casey Bloys had previously hinted that the fantasy drama will return in 2019, citing the cinematic scope of season eight as the reason.

However, the long hiatus will give author George RR Martin enough time to finish the new "Game of Thrones" books that he is currently working on.

ALSO READ: HERE'S WHAT "GAME OF THRONES" STARS LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE

"Game of Thrones" eighth season has already begun filming, and while fans still have a long time to wait, there have been hints on what to expect from the final season.

Former "Game of Thrones" actor Jason Momoa recently visited the set and told Entertainment Weekly that the upcoming season will be the greatest thing that has ever aired on TV.

In 2017, undefinedin Belfast, including Kristofer Hivju who plays Tormund GiantBane, whom most fans had a solid reason to believe died in season seven.

Also, Ellie Kendrick, who plays Meera Reed on the show, confirmed that she probably won’t be back for the final season. Her exit puts an end to a popular fan theory that Meera is Jon Snow's secret twin.

Five "Game of Thrones" prequels are in in the works. None have been greenlit yet.