Game of Thrones Season 8's production ended in July 2018, but its set remains to be standing until today. Despite the show's conclusion on air for about four months, Winterfell and King's Landing can still be seen in its full glory in Moneyglass and Titanic Studios both in Northern Ireland. Here's the reason why.
Winterfell had been set in different places since the show started in 2011. However, as the castle would be put through the wringer for the final season, it was greatly expanded in Monegylass and had a lot of additional details. But as the great battle at the castle of House Stark already ended, the set remained to be there and only secured with a chain-link fence to keep people out.
The King's Landing at the backlot of Titanic Studios was also still in Belfast, and by the looks of it, it wouldn't be put down anytime soon. Despite the destruction it experienced under Daenerys' (Emilia Clarke) wrath, the largest city in the Seven Kingdoms remained to be standing until today.
Several exterior sets at Linen Mill Studios in Corbet-Banbridge used for Game of Thrones Season 8 are also yet to be taken down. These sets had been used as Riverrun and for the Greyjoy sea battle in Season 7.
According to the fansite, Winter is Coming, these sets remain standing until today because the production hasn't gotten around tearing it down. However, rumors started to swirl long before the filming's conclusion that it would be kept to be a tourist attraction.
Linen Mill Studios is also said to be the host to the Game of Thrones Studio Tour, along with Winterfell. These sets may remain standing for a long while and may eventually be open to the public.
There is also a possibility these sets will be used for the production of Game of Thrones Prequel, which already wrapped up the filming of its pilot. However, the upcoming show is set thousands of years before the original series takes place, so some castles and cities known today may don't exist yet at the time.
King's Landing is not even built yet to fit the new series' timeline, but Winterfell is already around at that moment. People behind the show can also repurpose any of the sets to be used as other locations.
Meanwhile, in an interview with IndieWire, Emmy-winning production designer Deborah Riley said the King's Landing's destruction on Game of Thrones Season 8 was the perfect end to the art department's time on the show. The building and ruining of the capital tested the production staff's ability that they the cast and crew admired what they did.
"We had truly given it everything we possibly could," he said. It remains to be seen what will be HBO and Belfast's plan for the Game of Thrones sets, but it may be used for the foreseeable future.
