HBO's Game of Thrones is no stranger to massive battles, but it sounds like season six will depict the biggest battle the show, or possibly television in general, has ever seen.
At least that's what Game of Thrones writer and producer Bryan Cogman recently told EW.
"It's definitely the biggest [action sequence yet]," Cogman says. "We've always wanted to get to a place — story-wise and budget-wise and time-wise and resource-wise — where we would be able to do a proper battle, with one army on one side, one army on another side."
He goes on to describe the season six battle as a "proper battle," with hundreds of soldiers on one side clashing with hundreds of soldiers on another side. The entire battle, beginning, middle and end, will be shown on screen.
Game of Thrones, of course, is no stranger to large-scale skirmishes. In season two, there was the Battle of Blackwater Bay, in which Stannis Baratheon's fleet assaulted the shores of King's Landing before being destroyed by wildfire. Then, in season four, there was the Battle for Castle Black, which involved an army of Wildlings descending on the Wall. Last season, there was the massive battle of Hardhome, in which Wildlings and brothers of the Night's Watch alike battled against hordes of the undead for one of the most impressive episodes of the show to date.
Miguel Sapochnik, who directed "Hardhome," is also the director responsible for season six's upcoming battle.
"Miguel did such a fantastic job with ‘Hardhome' we thought we should bring him back — this time with horses," showrunner David Benioff says. "Horses are not easy, at all. And certainly in terms of numbers — number of extras, number of stuntmen, number of shooting days — it's the biggest we've done."
That still begs the question: who is fighting whom in this epic battle? Showrunners won't say, as to not spoil the upcoming season, but those who have read George R.R. Martin's book series will know the answer. Though the show will be surpassing the books for the first time in season six, Martin's latest book saw the beginning of the battle that is sure to be depicted on the show.
Game of Thrones season six premieres on HBO April 24.
