Following the explosive end to Game Of Thrones season six, Deadline sat down with David Benioff and DB Weiss – the co-creators responsible for turning George RR Martin’s novels into the huge TV success they’ve been over the past six-and-a-bit years.

In a lengthy chat discussing season six’s final episode (spoilers for that below), the challenges they’ve faced since overtaking the books and what we can expect from next season, Benioff confirmed there will only be two more seasons of HBO’s hit show.

“It’s two more seasons we’re talking about,” said Benioff. “From pretty close to the beginning, we talked about doing this in 70-75 hours, and that’s what we’ll end up with. Call it 73 for now.”

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen (Helen Sloan/HBO)

With each series containing 10 episodes at one-hour a piece, Benioff’s comments suggest all could be wrapped up and the Iron Throne will be secured by someone in the next 13 episodes.

Benioff said: “We’re trying to tell one cohesive story with a beginning, middle and end. As Dan said, we’ve known the end for quite some time and we’re hurtling towards it.

“Those last images from the show that aired last night showed that. Daenerys is finally coming back to Westeros; Jon Snow is king of the North and Cersei is sitting on the Iron Throne. And we know the Night King is up there, waiting for all of them.

“The pieces are on the board now.”

So whether or not you’re ready for it – and after watching Dany finally preparing to sail into King’s Landing, something we’ve been waiting for since the first season, you may well be – Game Of Thrones is definitely reaching its climax.