HBO programming president Casey Bloys has cleared a coupled of things up about the planned Game of Thrones spin-off/prequels/sequels.

First up in the interview with EW, regarding the release date:

“I want to put the prequels in context. It should go without saying I love having a show with this much intense interest around it. Even the smallest bit of information is a big deal and I appreciate that. But I wanted to make sure fans know this is a really embryonic process. I haven’t even seen outlines.”

(TL;DR = Chill out, they're going to take a while)

Secondly, on misrepresentation/misinterpretation of the number of shows:

“In the press at large, everybody said, ‘there are four spinoffs’ and they assume that means each one is happening and we’re going to have a new Game of Thrones show per quarter. That’s not what’s going on,” Bloys clarified. “The idea is not to do four shows. The bar set by [David Benioff and D.B. Weiss] is so high that my hope is to get one show that lives up to it."

(TL;DR = Obviously there aren't going to be four spin-offs, HBO isn't that cynical)

Trailer: Game of Thrones Season 7

People could be forgiven for thinking there will be several though, as the whole 'four idea development' thing is quite unusual, and only viable because of Game of Thrones' immense success.

"You couldn’t do this with a lot of shows," Bloys explained. "In talking with the drama group here, and the nice thing is George has created an entire universe …

Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Show all 42 1 /42 Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Cersei walks towards her newly installed map room, her shadow dominating the screen As she continues to move forward, a group of armoured Lannister men are revealed. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'Enemies to the East' Jacob Anderson's Grey Worm makes an appearance, standing before Danny's Unsullied army. Worm now wears a silver dragon sigil, as do all the Queen of Dragon's team. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Rosby and Duskendale make an appearance Two towns to the North of King's Landing. One of three shots as the camera glides to the North above the map kept at Dragonstone. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'Enemies to the West' Likely Euron Greyjoy, who currently hunts Theon and Yara, along with trying to take Danny as his wife. The ship looks surprisingly dragon-like. Also of note, Euron could hold the dragonbinder, a magical horn capable of subduing dragons. Perhaps Cersei and Euron will join forces - 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown The Vale of Arryn The knights of Arryn recently came to Jon Snow's rescue, helping reclaim Winterfell. More enemies, no doubt. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'Enemies of the South' Likely someone from Dorne sharpening their spear, perhaps one of the Sand Snakes? Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Castle Black and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea Home of The Night's Watch. Funny how Cersei seems preoccupied on human enemies when, as we all know, The White Walkers are coming. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'Enemies to the North' Maisee Williams' Arya still wandering alone (minus the horse). Looks like she's managing OK though. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'Whatever stand in our way' First glimpse of Jaime, standing upon the Queen's wonderful, unfinished map of Westeros. There's a ladder top right and miniature maps being used to finish the painting. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'We will defeat it' Cersei means business. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown The Lannister army marches forth Probably towards one of Cersei's many enemies. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown The Throne Room Back in King's Landing, Cersei's sitting upon the throne, Jaime and the Mountain by her side. Speculators believe that's Euron standing before them. The beginning of #TeamCerseiEuron. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'We're the last Lannisters' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's Jaime looking suitably aged. Probably stressed by the new regime. Oh, and all his children having been killed. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'The last ones who count' Poor Tyrion, hated by his family. Still, the Lannister gets to spend more quality time with Danny's dragons. This shot seems reminiscent of the season five poster where Tyrion stood at the front of a boat, meeting a dragon for the first time. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Dragon tale The pair still hitting it off. Could Tyrion ride a dragon this season? Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown She's finally home! Emilia Clarke's Daenerys enters Dragonstone. We have touchdown in Westeros! (Dragonstone is actually San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.) Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms' Feisty. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'And I will' Danny sits in Dragonstone's throne room, looking over her disciples. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Unsullied soldiers take Casterly Rock Danny's army are already causing havoc in Westeros, here killing numerous Lannister men as they take the family's home. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'The King in the North' Kit Harrington's Jon Snow makes an appearance. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'THE KING IN THE NORTH' Jon's closest confidents meet, Sansa by his side. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'Your father and brothers are gone, yet here you stand' Aidan Gillen's Littlefinger trying to manipulate Sophie Turner's Sansa. Her character has gone through hell and back, chances are she's not going to let anyone - including Balish - boss her around. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'Last best hope against the coming storm' As Littlefinger talks, The Wall's gates open. Who is coming through? Bran?! Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Theon on fire Well, he's not on fire, but what seems to be the ship he's standing in. Perhaps Theon is tasked to tackle Euron's army and the two battle on the sea. Later, there are shots featuring boats on fire, no doubt linking to this quick glimpse. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown The Red Witch Carice van Houten returns as Melisandre, who was last seen expelled from Winterfell. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Dragonstone She looks down upon Danny's new home, no doubt looking for the new Prince That Was Promised. As the shot passes, we get Littlefinger's 'Last best hope' line. Perhaps that's how Melisandre feels about Danny? Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Arya Looking pretty chilly. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'If we don’t put aside our enmities, and band together we will die' Davos talks as a snowstorm crashes on, implying this shot is taken North of The Wall. Men/Wildlings defend themselves from an unseen threat/White Walkers. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Dothraki v Lannisters Our money's on the Dothraki. The Lannisters really are taking a beating from Danny's many armies. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Sea battle Likely Euron's men taking on Theon Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'And then it doesn’t matter whose skeleton sits on the Iron Throne' Davos gives wise council as Danny and Tyrion appear, looming over the previously seen map of Westeros. Could Davos be meeting with them to talk about a partnership? Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown The Mountain is back, and with new armour CleganeBowl hype Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Jon chokes Littlefinger in the crypts of Winterfell One of the more intriguing shots, let's explain... Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Down in the crypts Chances are, Littlefinger is talking about Lyanna Stark, whose buried in the crypt. Balish could very well be revealing to Jon his true parentage, revealed last season to viewers through Bran's vision. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Casterly Rock The Unsullied demolishing the Lannister army Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown What the.... This horrible looking hand likely belongs to Jorah, last seen inflicted with Greyscale, which started in his arm. Imprisoned or being cured? Who knows. Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Dothraki The Lannister's are getting slaughtered in this trailer! Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Jon and Tormund Giantsbane run from White Walkers Why are they beyond The Wall? Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Missandei and Grey Worm It's happening!!!!! Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Yara and Ellaria Sand Another marriage to form alliances? Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown Tyrion knocks over a Lannister lion 'Fuck the Queen' Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown 'The Great War is here' Danny flies above the Dothraki as they charge into battle. An awe-striking shot to finish a tantalising new trailer.

"The other reason, frankly, as I said, is the bar is so high. If you only developed one, everything would rest on that one shot … I want to make sure that [any prequel] feels worthy. We have some amazing writers who want to take a shot at this.