: Ed Sheeran made a controversial cameo as a Lannister soldier in the premiere, a surprise arranged for fan Maisie Williams. Key Plot Developments
: David Benioff and D. B. Weiss continued as showrunners, basing the season on outlines for the upcoming novels The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring . Game of Thrones Season 7
: The production continued to use iconic locations, though Girona, Spain, was no longer used for Braavos or King’s Landing. : Ed Sheeran made a controversial cameo as
Game of Thrones Season 7 , which premiered on July 16, 2017 , marked a significant shift in the series as it began to outpace George R.R. Martin's published novels and move toward its endgame. Consisting of only seven episodes, the season was notable for its accelerated pacing and massive production scale. Production and Development Weiss continued as showrunners, basing the season on
: By this season, the core cast members—Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, and Kit Harington—were reportedly earning up to $1 million per episode .