Game of Thrones season 6: Everything we know so far from plot spoilers to premiere date

The bodies from the season five finale are barely even cold, but buzz for Game of Thrones season six is already strong.
Who's back? Who's dead? And what more can we expect from the next season of HBO's backstabbing, dragon-riding hit? Here's what we know so far - from the latest plot spoilers through to the expected premiere date:

Return of the Hound

The latest rumour from Westeros (aka Northern Ireland) is that Hound actor Rory McCann has been spotted in Belfast, where Game of Thrones has been shooting.

Sandor Clegane was left to die by Arya, but speculation has been rife ever since thanks to his supposed death off screen. And let's face it, even a death on screen is no guarantee of anything in this show.

It's worth noting that there have been some rumours about flashbacks for season six, so we might not get anything more than the memory of the Hound. Though those Clegane boys have always proven hard to kill...

Into the great unknown

© HBO

Most of the events of Game of Thrones up until now have been tempered by the existence of George RR Martin's novels. For every shocked response to the latest massacre, there has been someone out there shaking their head and saying, "We've known it was coming for months. Years, even."

But finally and inevitably, season five caught up with the books and began to introduce plot developments from beyond the five published novels. Until Martin puts out The Winds of Winter (and who would really be willing to put money on that happening before the show returns?), six is the first season that we can't even begin to sketch out a clear outline for.

But that isn't to say we have no idea what's coming...

Bran is back

© HBO

After a leave of absence in season five, Isaac Hempstead Wright has confirmed that he will be back as Bran Stark when Game of Thrones returns.

Bran's arc is one of the few that isn't quite up to date with the novels, but showrunner David Benioff suggested that he will be getting to grips with his powers off screen in a similar way to Luke Skywalker between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

However Bran returns to our screens, it stands to reason that Hodor (Kristian Nairn) and Meera Reed (Ellie Kendrick) won't be too far behind.

Servant of the Red God

© Helen Sloan/HBO

A leaked script has revealed that Carice van Houten's Melisandre might not be the only red priestess gracing our screens next year. If reports are to be believed, British actress Tehmina Sunny read for the part of the young priestess Kinvara.

The scene has the new character meeting with Tyrion and Varys in Mereen, and saying that Daenerys Targaryen is the Lord of Light's chosen saviour, confirming what we knew all along.

Varys wryly points out the poor track record of Melisandre's candidate for 'The Prince Who Was Promised', Stannis Baratheon, who director David Nutter confirmed isdefinitely and totally dead. As much as we can trust anyone to be level with us about these things.

The Jon Snow question

© HBO

Speaking of characters being dead, we're all waiting impatiently to find out whether Jon Snow's apparently fatal stabbing will stick. We've already made it very clear what we think the fate of Kit Harington's pouting hero will be.

Even the cast and crew can't make up their mind on this. We've had repeated assurances that Snow kicked the bucket, but Carice van Houten and Emilia Clarkearen't so sure.

From suspiciously failing to take the opportunity to cut his long locks to sightings of him attending script readings for Game of Thrones in Belfast, all signs point to Snow's return.

They still aren't confessing though, with HBO president Michael Lombardo the latest to insist Snow is dead.

And more interestingly, he also revealed that the current plan is for Game of Thronesto end with its eighth season, though a prequel may also be in the offing.

Lost characters... found?

© HBO

The series has been conspicuously missing a few threads and characters from the books, such as Lady Stoneheart, Arianne Martell and the goings on in the Iron Islands.

In many of these cases, the cuts were clearly made for the sake of economy and making the story filmable, but the showrunners have hinted that they might pick up some of those absent threads in the upcoming seasons.

"People will complain about things because they don't know what's coming up ahead," David Benioff told EW. "'Why haven't we seen this guy?' And I think it will be easier once everything is out and it's 70 hours... Sometimes we're going in a different order or telling a different story. We think the story will all make sense at the end. Otherwise it will be eight wasted years."

So it might be that some of those apparently abandoned characters might be putting in an appearance in season six. We're not making any promises, mind.

When is the expected release date for Game of Thrones season 6?

According to recent casting call emails, season 6 is due to debut on HBO on Sunday, April 3, 2016 - but at such an early stage, that transmission date could be subject to change.

Who's running the show, and who's directing each episode?

© HBO

David Benioff and Dan Weiss are back as showrunners again, and we also have a list of who will be directing on Game of Thrones season six's ten episodes.

Jeremy Podeswa (True Detective, Boardwalk Empire) is back for the first two issues, with Daniel Sackheim (The Walking Dead, House) joining for three and four and Jack Bender (Lost) taking five and six.

Mark Mylod (Entourage, The Royle Family) will return for seven and eight with 'Hardhome' director Miguel Sapochnik (True Detective, House) polishing off the final two episodes.

Martin won't be scripting any of this season's episodes as he promises that he is far too busy writing book six. We want to believe you, GRRM.

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