The epic Game of Thrones series is due to come to an end in 2019 with its eighth and final season. The Game of Thrones prequel series, due to be cast towards the end of 2018, is now called to fill the void that it is due to be created in HBO’s high-budget programming. There are rumors that starring roles in the show have already been cast, but the rest of the show is likely to draw from a pool of talented unknown actors — much like the original Game of Thrones series.

Many of the details for the prequel are being kept underwraps but a working title, “Age of Heroes,”, has been confirmed. For fans of the original Game of Thrones installments, it is unlikely that there will be cameos from well-known characters, as the prequel will be set thousands of years before the current series. This is a bold move for HBO, which has created a huge brand around the Game of Thrones name and which has resulted in the current cast gaining huge success in both television and film.

What started as a little known series of fantasy novels called “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George RR Martin has exploded to include the television series and now also features video games. Casino Games Ca even lists an officially licensed GoT slot game, which gives players 243 ways to win. The series has even boosted tourism in Ireland where much of it has been filmed, with fans flocking to historic landmarks to visit locations from the show. Locations such as Tollymore Forest Park, which was the location for the Haunted Forest in the show, and Pollnagollum Cave, which is better known to viewers as the Banners’ hideout where Arya was taken to meet the Brotherhood, have seen an influx in tourism by GoT superfans.

There have been stories of a range of prequels in the works. Author George RR Martin suggested that there might be several spin-off series. However, only one has been confirmed to be in the works. The pilot has been written by acclaimed screenwriter Jane Goldman, who wrote Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class and Kingsman. The team will be aided by Martin, who already holds a wealth of material from the books. Goldman is known for the sense of humor, which she injects into many of her scripts, with superhero pastiche Kick-Ass being the most prominent example.

The new spin-off show are likely to look very different from the original series, as original showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have decided not to stay on for the prequel. However, they will remain on board as executive producers, which leaves an exciting role for a showrunner who knows Westeros inside out. There have been hints that we may find out the origin of the White Walkers and the mystery of the East. Insiders have confirmed that it is going to be very little like the GoT world that we currently know, which is why it is so fortunate that we get a final installment in 2019.