Game of Thrones season 8 will feature a battle that lasts a whole episode – and here’s when we might see it

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Oh, boy. Just in case you couldn’t be more hyped for Game of Thrones season 8 (opens in new tab) than you already are, there’s this: an episode-long battle has been teased, potentially clocking in at 90 minutes. Not only that, but it’s almost definitely going to be the longest recorded (fictional) battle ever, beating the likes of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (opens in new tab) behemoth Battle of Helm’s Deep. It gets better, because we might even know when this show-defining battle takes place, so you can prepare yourself accordingly.

In a blowout feature by EW (opens in new tab), it’s confirmed that Game of Thrones season 8 will have an episode-spanning battle, dubbed The Battle of Winterfell. In it, almost every major Game of Thrones character (opens in new tab) will feature in a fight against the Night King and the rest of the White Walkers who have been plodding their way south since, well, forever.

The numbers are, frankly, ridiculous. 750 cast and crew worked tirelessly across 11 full weeks in freezing conditions. Hound actor Rory McCann even says candidly: “Everyone prays they never have to do this again.” It’ll be worth it, though. Sophie Turner, AKA Sansa Stark, teases that “rumour has it, it’s 90 minutes long”.

So, that clash that Peter Dinklage teased would make the Battle of the Bastards look like a theme park (opens in new tab)? This is probably it. We might even know when we can expect it, as Battle of the Bastards (opens in new tab) director Miguel Sapochnik is back behind the camera, and he’s only confirmed to direct two episodes (opens in new tab) in Game of Thrones season 8: episodes 3 and 5.

Mark April 28 in your calendars, because that’s definitely when we’re getting the Battle of Winterfell. I’d imagine HBO isn’t too happy about us being able to pinpoint when we’re getting this epic battle, but – as seen in our Game of Thrones ending (opens in new tab) feature – the Night King actor Vladimir Furdik has already revealed that a battle that’s “the biggest in television history” is arriving in episode 3 of Game of Thrones season 8.

Not long to go now, then. If this battle is any indication, it’s going to make the rest of the show look positively small-scale by comparison. And that takes some doing.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the best Game of Thrones theories (opens in new tab) before April rolls around!