Speculation: Is Game of Thrones Filming Hardhome Part 2 at Saintfield? 

if you don’t want to know what that reveal is, best stop reading

), it’s time we talk about what’s happening in Saintfield, Northern Ireland.

But first, a little bit of background for those who might not be quite as obsessive over the show’s filming norms as we are here at WiC.

has a six-month filming schedule, one that takes place in several countries simultaneously, as everyone films different plotlines that will overlap within episodes. Part of the reason the show sticks to the assigning of two side-by-side episodes per director is that this makes it slightly easier to manage. Each director is basically doing a two-hour movie, and the show is just filming five of them at once. Though the production has the biggest budget in television, the production works hard to conserve every penny. That means that filming—especially on-site location filming, which incurs a far higher price tag that in-studio filming does—is done in a brutally efficient manner. As

watchers in Ireland can tell you, those pink signs go up, and then straightaway, they come back down again before you can even blink. For example, this season Winterfell went up, and came back down in the space of two weeks. Sometimes filming on location happens so fast, it’s already over before we even hear about it. Call it the

There are three notable exceptions to this rule. The first was Season 2’s “Blackwater,” which took four weeks to film, three weeks of which were the battle scenes on the water and on the shore. The second was Season 4’s “The Watchers on the Wall,” which took three (two of which were for the battle sequence.) The last one was last season’s “Hardhome”, which took a whopping five weeks. That last one is also notable, because unlike the other two, where the month or close to a month-long stretch of filming covers the entire episode, “Hardhome’s” five-week shooting schedule was only for the back 20 minutes of the hour.

What does that have to do with Saintfield? Well, we can start with that fact that the production has been parked on that field filming since the middle of August. They’ve been filming a battle since the first week of September. In total, that’s six weeks of filming and counting, half of which has been dedicated to the battle sequence. For comparison, in the time they’ve taken to film just the battle scene, the production has already finished in three of six filming locations in Spain on the docket, and by the end of the week will finish the fourth. Filming in Saintfield continues this week, which now marks four weeks of shooting just this battle scene.

Oi, Game of Thrones your floodlights are ruining the eclipse in Saintfield somewhat 🌚

— chrissie russell (@chrissierussell) September 28, 2015

What in heaven’s name are they filming? I have a theory. Let’s play “What do we know?”

Per the pictures on Friday, Kit Harington will be involved in the battle scene. Welcome back, Jon Snow.

We know that the director standing there talking to Kit Harington is Miguel Sapochnik.

We know, according to the lineup, that Sapochnik is doing episodes 9 and 10.

We know that, despite last season’s outlier pacing with episodes 8 and 9 having a longer back end scene that represented “Ice” and “Fire” respectively and episode 10 as the climactic episode of the season, the production really likes having their climatic battles in episode 9. Moreover, they’ve done a single location battle-centric episode 9 in both even numbered seasons so far. Chances are high we’ll get another one in Season 6.

Sapochinik did “Hardhome.” He is the only director who is experienced in doing these tough CGI-heavy battles, and it was universally agreed that his direction and conception of how to go about such a fantastical battle sequence was key to pulling it off.

All spoiler rumors coming out of this site are variations on the same theme. Boltons vs a Northern coalition that includes many of Robb’s former allies (Umbers and Karstarks), plus the wildlings and Jon Snow. So far, we’ve all happily taken that at face value. The North taking down the Boltons. Groovy.

But this is where I want to point out that last year, we were given a level of misdirection when it came to the Hardhome battle. Now, this was partly because the show filmed it at Magheramorne quarry, which (unlike Saintfield) was a lot easier to lock down in terms of secrecy. We had one or two reports from locals about a “new set,” but the pictures weren’t clear about what it was or what is was for. The first real news we got about the coming battle at Hardhome was when the production revealed it in the

special. And even then, all they mentioned was the Night’s Watch and the Wildlings, and we assumed the battle was between those groups. It wasn’t until a certain shot in an Inside GoT video on the subject of stunts that we first got a clue that White Walkers, or the Night’s King, might be involved. With that in mind…

What if this is a battle that starts out between the Northern Coalition, and finds itself interrupted by the arrival of a Winter storm that brings loads of wights down upon mankind? That’s a huge multi-fronted battle scene. Not only that, but that sort of battle would probably include night fighting, which would explain why reports suggest that the production is shooting both during the day and at night, plus a mention of night shoots at the Emmys.

Another point: one of the complaints we heard going into last season was: when is Winter going to get here already? The show answered with Hardhome.

The next question is: When will the people south of the Wall get a clue already? Clearly it needs to be when some of the Northerners see what’s coming. Not to be racist against those who live north of the Wall (Wallist?), but you know that the chances of powerful lords listening to wildlings about some Night’s King raising the dead will get a laughing 

“Oh yeah, and my Old Nan also used to tell me stories about The Rat Cook!”

Hearing it from Jon Snow might get a frowning listen, but a few whispers of “wildling-lover” would soon have him backburnered. The only way these lords in the Riverlands and further south are going to start taking this seriously is if they hear it from a shell-shocked Karstark, who they know well, have drunk heavily with, and have cheated on their wife in the same brothel as.

But how might the White Walkers come to the fight in the North? Did the Wall fall? Has it been breached?

Is it possible that the end of this season begins the time referred to as The Long Night?

This is an important point. The Night’s Watch are never mentioned in the rumors about this battle. We need to know what happened to them. Are we going to see the end of the Night’s Watch this season?

Of special note is that the outfit Jon Snow is wearing in the picture from Friday is not a Night’s Watch uniform. Is he is no longer a member of that illustrious body? What happened there?

By the way, can we talk about this outfit for a minute? Because it brings me to my next point.

Everyone keeps talking about the death of “a Stark we don’t expect.” So far speculation on said Stark has ranged from the littlest most forgotten Stark, Rickon, to Undead Uncle Benjen. But what if the Stark everyone means is Jon? I mean, look at that outfit. Not a speck of black on him. In fact, the cut and color are deliberately recalling outfits we saw Ned Stark wear in Season 1 and Robb sport in Seasons 2 and 3. Now, Stannis is dead, and I assume his offer to make legitimize Jon Snow died with him. But somehow I suspect that when it comes to Season 6, we’ll learn that, Aes Sedai-style, everyone involved in the production was telling the truth—just not the truth you thought you heard. Jon Snow is dead. Jon Stark has risen.

And if the reports of the “death” are true, does that mean Jon Stark rises regularly, Beric Dondarrion style? Or is this the first time we see that Jon Stark takes a licking and keeps on ticking, so long as Melisandre is nearby? More than a few people are certain that’s her standing under the umbrella in these shots.

Could the big battle this season be Hardhome Part Two? With all the evidence laid out before us like this, it’s very suggestive that it is. One of

‘ biggest issues is that each season they have to top themselves in some manner. And especially in light of the

reaction to the Massacre at Hardhome, it’s hard to imagine that they would dedicate an entire episode to a snow bound battle that didn’t wind up finding itself as a fight between Humanity and the Others.

And to be entirely honest, though I would like to see Jon Snow (Or Jon Stark) be the one to take Ramsay down (and I would also be the first one in line to term it “The Snowbowl”), if Ramsey is taken out by a wight, or a White Walker? That would be just fine too.

Game of Thrones Season 6 production feels like it’s all over Spain right now, as filming...

It’s hard to believe that the original pilot for Game of Thrones was filmed way back in...

Have you already read all the books and/or don\'t care about spoilers? You can reveal all the spoilers in the comments with the click of a link below.

I have said a few times that i want to see two things from Winds of Winter…and the next season : I want to see the wall go down; and i want to see King’s Landing burn. As for the night’s watch, their time is done. They have lost sight of their purpose and must now be disbanded.

Loving the Wheel of Time reference. But I think the stark will be Benjen. Time for him to let us know what he’s been up to all these years. P.s. Is gillys baby still a baby after 4 seasons…. WHITE WALKER in disguise?

Have you seen “We’re the Millers”? I think the baby is their pot stash.

FWIW, I found this on /r/gameofthrones. Might be a troll. But a check of his other posts confirms he’s in Belfast, and that he at least isn’t a previous “troller”.

[–]Hannibal-REKTer 32 points 1 day ago Hijacking the top comment here. I live in Saintfiled just round the corner from where this is filmed and have had the GOT security team outside my house for three days looking out for drones to prevent pictures from being taken. They confirmed a lot of stuff, but specifically Jon Snow coming back as a Stark. In addition I got to see them filming a huge fight scene with hundreds of extras playing workings against an army of wights and white walkers.

Why resurecting Jon as a Stark to kill him a little bit later ? To resurect him as Jon Targaryen ?

I already coined it Snowbowl months ago in a post. Also, I think I may have an idea of what happened between Jon and tha Watch . Thirdly, why no speculation on th3 death of sansa as the stark who dies? She is in the area. GRRM stated a long time female character will die in Winds. The idea of Jon dying again is kind of absurd. Especially if he keeps getting up.

He also said that is a character that in show can’t die because D&D change it so much, so maybe a character is part of the books, so I think he talked about Arianne Martell.

its just a bran vision / or jon snow fever dream while he is dieing… Only to wake up and be raised in episode 10 lol

Most likely there will be two major battles, one between Boltons and Stark supporters, and another one between the army of dead vs living men.

If the army of dead and White Walkers arrive at the same time the Boltons and the rest of the North battling, all is lost, NONE will survive, not even Jon.

So here is the twist, with Jon knowing the White Walkers coming, he draws the Boltons out and let them fight the army of dead before cleaning up the mess, with his new best friend, FIRE!

My personal hope is that it’s a battle between ALL THE NORTHERN HOUSES and Wildlings against the WW. ALL includes the Boltons! Who will all still die horribly, or be resurrected as very evil wights. I remain unconvinced that this battle is the battle for Winterfell.

Episode 9 : starts midway through Bolton vs North , overlapped with the White Walkers taking down the Wall

Haha sorry I’m just gonna share this again, I’m super excited about it >_<

If this is your video. You are gorgeous! Thanks for the great video!

I do believe the white walkers will meet that winter battle and interrupt it. I don’t think Jon would be willingly fighting the Boltons though, as much as he’d like to kill them he knows they will turn into wights, unless he thinks he has enough time to burn them all

Impossible. Wall would have to fall down in next season and it’s simply too early ro that to happen.Plenty of time in the last two season for some encounter with them.

It is not too early for the Wall to fall. The southern lords and ladies need to know Winter has come and with it the Long Night.

It would be a shame to put the Long Night off to the last season and a half. Bring down the Wall and change the game!

Your right Valentina, Jon’s the only one trying to put together an army to fight the army of the dead. He try to get anyone and everyone to fight with him. As far as burning Boltons, burning should be his thing if he was resurrected by Mel.

A Stark died in this battle, you bet! But it’s Benjen Stark died as Wiget/White Walker, and it’s Jon’s doing!

Interesting theory. We have been wondering what happen to Benjen. That would be a surprise to see him show up as a white walker.

You mean a wight. Dead adults don’t get rezzed as White Walkers/Others – only Craster’s babies (show version). WW are like demon elementals of cold; wights are just mindless zombies. I wish people would stopped conflating the two.

Obvious thought about Jon Snow – the Night’s Watch vow says that Jon’s watch “will not end until my death.” Well, if he’s dead and brought back, his watch has ended. Which means he’s no longer bound by his vows – he can take a wife, hold lands, and father children, and he wear a crown and win glory. Convenient, hmm?

“For this night and all the nights to come” what about this line?

Just want to say that I love you, WIC,for this Wheel of Time reference.

I’m amazed how you all have warhead season 5 when I ordered it I was told it won’t arrive till Mar NEXT YEAR so how come?

Hello, perhaps someone could enlighten me. I have noticed that there are those who are referring to a reborn Jon Snow as Jon Stark lately. I love Jon to bits, but what would give him the right to call himself a Stark? I don’t think he would ever do that. He knows well enough that he is a bastard (as he has been led to believe). So why wouldn’t he still be referring to himself as Snow? I have heard other parentage theories but not one which indicates Jon is a legitimate son of a Stark father.

The only thing that would make Jon a legitimate Stark is a royal decree.

Stanis could have signed one or even king Rob could have before he died.

So maybe he is still Jon Snow and every one is calling him Jon Stark because they believed the propaganda that Jon Snow is dead.

there’s a big theory circulating that Robb legitimized Jon Snow before he died. It was during the war, after Sansa had been married to Tyrion. The remaining Starks (as far as Robb and Catelyn knew) were all dead, and Sansa had been married off to the enemy. The plan to legitimize Jon was mentioned in both the books and the show, and it’s possible Robb signed the decree and gave it to a Mormont or Umber for safe keeping. This could be why all of the Northern houses are rallying around Jon Snow.

I see. Thank you for filling in that gap for me. I had missed those references in the book/show, nor had I heard that theory before. I’m still expecting him to turn out to be JT, assuming his parents were married. He definitely has more than a fair share of Stark in him though. Either way, dying to find out!

Also, I hope there is a big outcome of finding out who his parents are. I feel like I have been focused on that primarily when there are so many other goings on to ponder.

Jon is half Stark and half Targaryen according to the most popular theory.Rickon could legitimize him or Stannis’s will will replace Robb’s from the books.Or maybe Robb’s will will make it to the show somehow.

I agree completely! I buy the Stark/Targaryen theory as most likely. I knew that otherwise you would have to have a decree like Ramsay Bolton. I just hadn’t heard that Robb was doing that. Well done on him though! Very touching. I miss Robb!

Jon is either a bastard of Rhaegar Tardaryen (since he would have been born in the Tower of Joy in Dorne, his last name would be Sand) OR he is Jon Targaryen.

since jons supposed mother and father were not wed, he can only be jon stark. the starks are what he knows so of course he would be a stark.

If the TOJ scene reveals what we all expect, namely R + L = J; then Jon Snow is only one of two things:

A) A bastard of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark whose name should be Jon Sand as he was borne in Dorne (the location of the TOJ)

B) The legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Targaryen whose name would be Jon Targaryen.

Ani, you are the best for this. I this the NW will fall because they have forsaken their duties and betrayed their LC at the Wall itself and murdered him for no good reason. I believe the spells and magics woven into the Wall are now nullified and the White Walkers/Others will be able to break through and overrun Thorne and his boot-licking lackies. Jon Stark rises and leaves, fights the Boltons with Rickon and the Umbers at his side…maybe Sansa as well…then the Others flow over everything and Jon has to rally those with Valyrian steel and they have to hold off the NK, while the Northern Army beats feet back to WF.

Isn’t it normal for Northmen to kill NW deserters on sight?

The Warden of the North is tasked with beheading deserters. Jon looks like he’s heading over to Winterfell to behead the Warden of the North (Roose).

Who in the north has Valerian Steel? Jon has Long Claw and Brienne has half of Ice, now known as Oathkeeper. Do you know of any others?

I don’t want the others to be involved in this battle. Was kinda hoping for a cliffhanger leading into season 7 with them gathering at the wall with an army the size no one has ever seen. The camera zooms over and just goes on and on then fade to credits.

Why would they bring back Jon and then again kill him off? First of all we know that it’s not confitmed yet that he is really a Stark. That House Stark member who will die can be Sansa or Rickon. Or even Benjen!!

Somehow I don’t feel so enthusiastic about a Battle of Five Armies turn of events. I think it would feel derivative – especially coming so soon after the final Hobbit movie.

No! Not another Stark! That’s just too much. And this can’t be Jon. They can’t rise him again and again.

I hope that maybe part of the NW survive (Ed!) and will be fighting on Jon’s side.

Jon as the King of the North- it’ll be to good to be real;) But maybe when he finally become Stark he’ll find out the truth and it could break him:<

If Melisandre is with him they can rise him over and over again like Thoros and Beric.

That would be too redundant and usually something that would happen for comedic purposes not in a drama.

The next question is: When will the people south of the Wall get a clue already?

I was wondering what became of the letters sent to all lords of Westeros by the dying maester Aemon. I know Davos read his copy and passed it to Stannis. What about those at King’s Landing…oh yeah, Cersai has gutted the counsel.

Also, Mormont sent Alliser on an errand to deliver the torn off hand of the crow Ghost found dead north of the wall – the same dead body that revived and attacked Mormont – to King Joffrey. I don’t think anything else was said about that afterward…even though Alliser later returned to Castle Black.

I suppose people know what’s happening, they’re just not responding to what they know, or there’s no one responsible enough to respond.

IIRC the hand had completely rotted and fallen apart by the time Thorne made it to King’s Landing.

If I remember correctly the site that posted the “a Stark no one suspects dies” in the battle, was Irish Thrones. Many people have questioned their site as being a site that is questionable as to whether their rumors are accurate! Unless you have heard from reliable sources, maybe we shouldn’t believe the “a Stark no one suspects dies” rumor?!!!

I have to apologize to Irish Thrones! Their site said that “Benjen Stark was taking part in the battle! Sorry!! It was a Reddit user who said that it was ” a Stark no one expects” who will die in the battle! I certainly hope it will not b Jon Stark after just being resurrected!! Will b heartbroken all over again!😂

Davos 4 king on Awesome Pic Shows A Northern Host Assembled For Battle in Season 6

a57se on Awesome Pic Shows A Northern Host Assembled For Battle in Season 6

CBtheWolf on Filming continues near Saintfield (UPDATE: Presumed-dead character seen in costume, on set!)