Game of Thrones prequel filming kicks off in Northern Ireland

Filming for the Game of Thrones prequel has reportedly kicked off in Northern Ireland, weeks after the final season finished airing.

The popular HBO fantasy drama came to an end after eight seasons last month, leaving fans bereft at the loss of their favourite show but looking forward to more of the franchise being produced.

Now, reports in The Belfast Telegraph suggest that the cameras are rolling on the set of one of the new prequel series’ set around 5,000 years before the main show.

The publication claims that filming started last week for the as-yet-untitled show in County Down, with various locations also being set up across Belfast.

They are thought to include Tollymore Forest, which originally appeared as Winterfell, Inch Abbey – Rob Stark’s base camp – and The Dark Hedges.

Plot details for the prequel, which will star Naomi Scott and Josh Whitehouse, are being kept tightly under wraps.

The official description says that the series will “chronicle the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour”, unravelling and retelling the “story we think we know”.

It continues: “From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East, to the Starks of legend… it’s not the story we think we know.”

And Game of Thrones author George R.R Martin pointed out to Entertainment Weekly that he has written “very little” about the period during which the prequel is set, meaning director Jane Goldman could pretty much go anywhere with it.

“There’s no King’s Landing. There’s no Iron Throne. There are no Targaryens,” he told EW. “Valyria has hardly begun to rise yet with its dragons and the great empire that it built.

“We’re dealing with a different and older world and hopefully that will be part of the fun of the series.”