The upcoming season of "Game of Thrones" will ultimately be the season when the HBO drama goes further than what George R.R. Martin has written in his novels. With the sixth book "Winds of Winter" nowhere in sight, the art of improvisation seems to be the TV series' recourse.
Showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff are now up to extending the "A Song of Ice and Fire" universe from which the show came from. In doing so, the pair will get help from five brilliant new directors recruited for "Game of Thrones" season 6.
Part of the group is Jack Bender who will direct two episodes. Bender is acclaimed for his work in the drama "Lost," which enjoyed a six-year run. With "GoT" seemingly out of new material, Bender has a solution in mind taken from his colorful life as the "Lost" director.
"This is how I look at it. As a director on Lost, for example, I liked to say we get recipes from (Lost showrunners) Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. Then, me and the writers and the rest of the team, we'd cook the meal. That's always how I saw the metaphor," Bender explained to BGR.
During the interview, Bender emphasized that Weiss and Benioff "communicate closely" with Martin despite being comfortable in taking the reins themselves. This means that even if "Winds of Winter" still isn't complete by the time season 6 starts, fans will likely get a taster.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the now-debunked news that the sixth book is ready for waiting fans, Independent reported that the author gave a summary of "Winds of Winter" to writers of the show to use as a basis for the show's sixth season.
It is difficult to tell where the story goes. Even Jon Snow's hoped-for return or permanent departure is still up in the air. Bustle writes that Benioff and Weiss has saved important arcs from previous books such as "A Dance of Dragons" and "A Feast of Crows," which they may present in the new season.
"Game of Thrones" season 6 will debut in April next year.
