HBO has finally unveiled a launch date for the eagerly awaited fourth season of Game of Thrones, based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin, which will kick off on Sunday, April 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. (Viewers looking to get a sneak peek at the new season can check out a new Season 4 trailer this Sunday evening before the launch of HBO's superlative new mystery thriller True Detective.)
After the deaths of several major characters last season (the Red Wedding!), the cast for Season 4 of Game of Thrones will include Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kit Harington, Natalie Dormer, Maisie Williams, and Sophie Turner.
The same night will see the launches of Season 3 of Veep at 10 p.m. and HBO's new Mike Judge comedy Silicon Valley at 10:30.
In other HBO-related news, the network announced the upcoming fifth season of Boardwalk Empire will be the show's last.
"We're thrilled to get the go-ahead for a fifth season of Boardwalk Empire," said executive producer/co-creator Terence Winter in a statement. "After much discussion with my creative team and HBO, we've decided to wrap up the series after such a great run and look forward to bringing it to a powerful and exciting conclusion."
So pour one out for Nucky Thompson and Co.