When will Game of Thrones end? That's a question that has been on many fans minds over the past couple of years. And now, we may have an answer. HBO is nearing a deal to renew Game of Thrones for Season 7 and Season 8. And with this double renewal, many are speculating that everything will be brought to a close in 2018.

While Jon Snow's fate hangs in the balance, so does Game of Thrones. But fans need not worry about that yet. HBO is already in talks with creator/executive producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss for new episodes. Michael Lombardo confirmed the news with TVLine. He had this to say.

"I think 'seven seasons and out' has never been the conversation; the question is how much beyond the seventh season are we going to do."

Back in July, the HBO president of programming assured fans that there would likely be two more seasons after this year's Game of Thrones Season 6. But it probably wouldn't stretch beyond that. He explained at the time.

"[The producers are] feeling like there's probably two more years after six. I would love for them to change their minds, but that's what we're looking at right now."

It was just announced this past weekend that the creator of Game of Thrones, author George R.R. Martin, was not going to meet his deadline for the next book in his  Song of Ice and Fire series upon which the show is based. This means that The Winds of Winter will arrive after Game of Thrones Season 6 has debuted. This will be the first time that the fantasy drama series has gone beyond the written word. It was just announced yesterday that Game of Thrones will start debuting new episodes on April 24. This is what George R.R. Martin had to say on his personal blog about the matter.

"Given where we are, inevitably, there will be certain plot twists and reveals in Season 6 of Game of Thrones that have not yet happened in the books. For years, my readers have been ahead of the viewers. This year, for some things, the reverse will be true."

Will Game of Thrones Season 8 bring everything to a close? And will the books be fully caught up with the TV show by 2018? Those are questions we dont have the answers to yet. HBO has confirmed that the new seasons of Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley and Veep will debut back-to-back on Sunday, April 24, starting at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Game of Thrones begins its ten-episode sixth season Sunday, April 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m.).

Based on the popular book series A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin, this hit Emmy-winning fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom. The ensemble cast for the fifth season included Emmy and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Aidan Gillen, Kit Harington, Diana Rigg, Natalie Dormer, Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner. Executive producers, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger, Bernadette Caulfield; co-executive producers, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis and George R.R. Martin.