The final battle for the Iron Throne will commence sooner than later in 2019.

HBO programming president Casey Bloys revealed that "Game of Thrones" Season 8 will premiere in the first half of next year. Bloys made the announcement at the Television Critics Association press tour.

That would mark a return to form for the fantasy epic, which had its series premiere in April and debuted every subsequent season that month except for last year's Season 7. That premiered in July after production was delayed so they could film in winter (since, you know, winter wasn't only coming but had arrived).

An April premiere also makes sense considering the other dramas HBO has on deck for 2019. Season 2 of "Big Little Lies" could start airing in February, as its first season did. And summer could the stage for the third season of "True Detective" after a four-year absence.

Bloys also gave an update on the filming of the "Game of Thrones" prequel pilot. Earlier reports that it would begin shooting this fall were wrong, he said, noting the project had yet to find a director or cast.

"We’re hoping to go into production in early ’19,” Bloys said.