Let the shadow baby jokes begin. (Or not. They’d probably all been covered within ten minutes of this news breaking.)

People magazine is reporting that our Melisandre, Carice van Houten, is expecting a child with actor Guy Pearce.

Congratulations to van Houten and Pearce!

What does this mean for Game of Thrones?

Speculation below the cut!

Well, we’re not sure. Melisandre’s fate is a big question mark, going into season 6. Speculation is rampant about the character this year. She’s alive and well at the end of season 5, but with her character largely responsible for Shireen’s death, and her mystical powers possibly playing into into the Jon Story story, her future seems uncertain. There are many who theorize the priestess won’t survive season 6.

Game of Thrones season 7 is expected to start shooting mid-summer. Though it’s not clear when the actress is due, given the announcement’s timing, Carice will likely be very pregnant and showing in ways that can’t be hidden by simply filming around her belly. And of course, spending significant time at work when you’ve only just given birth is very difficult physically. The show worked around Lena Headey’s pregnancies/births, so it’s possible that happens once again. Game of Thrones could arrange to have any Melisandre filming to occur later, in the fall.

But we do have to wonder if this is another sign that Melisandre won’t be returning after season 6.

Either way, best wishes to van Houten and Pearce on their happy news!

Another interesting item in Jon-Snow-Watch has turned up today: several fans report seeing a new YouTube ad for the Game of Thrones Season 5 DVD that is focused entirely on Jon. The 30-second ad features Jon repeating the Night’s Watch oath. It appears before several Game of Thrones videos, including this one.

Make sure your ad-blockers are turned off!