HBO Executive Hints at A Lot of Deaths in 'Game of Thrones' Finale During a recent panel in Israel, HBO executive Francesca Orsi talked about the show's final read-through. It was a really powerful moment in our lives and our careers. None of the cast had received the scripts prior, and one by one they started falling down to their deaths. Orsi said that after the final read, the cast just stood around and clapped for 15 minutes. It was amazing. By the very end, everyone looked down and looked up and tears were in their eyes. HBO announced back in January that the show's eighth and final season will premiere in 2019.