Filming of Game of Thrones season 5 is moving along nicely, and we thought now would be a great time to take stock of what we know so far, as we head into the busy shooting season.

Season 5 will be written by David Benioff and D.B Weiss, and Bryan Cogman as in previous seasons, with the new addition of Dave Hill. George R.R. Martin will not be writing an episode for the first time, due to his commitment to The Winds of Winter.

This season we have only one returning director, David Nutter. We have four new names on the roster: Michael Slovis (episodes 1 and 2), Mark Mylod (3 and 4), Jeremy Podeswa (5 and 6), and Miguel Sapochnik (7 and 8).

The highlights of what we know about season 5:

Game of Thrones has been renewed for Seasons 5 and 6. They were renewed simultaneously on April 8th, two days after the premiere of season 4.

On next season, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss commented in Entertainment Weekly, “There will be Dorne, and we’re excited about it. Who wouldn’t want to hang out in Dorne? They have admirable values and priorities.” When it comes to the book adaptation, Benioff noted, “We’re not going in strict order because we can’t. We can’t adapt Feast and leave out half our characters. We’ll be drawing heavily from Feast and Dance in season 5.”

Season 5 will largely feature the Martells, the family of the recently killed Prince Oberyn, including his brother Doran and his fierce daughters, the Sand Snakes.

Season 2 cast member Tom Wlaschiha, who played Faceless assassin Jaqen H’ghar, is rumored to be returning based on news posted by his agency.

Leaked audition tapes for Obara and Tyene Sand point to unexpected changes with familiar GoT characters heading south to Dorne to tangle with the Sand Snakes.

Filming has begun! Pink GOT signs were spotted July 19-22nd near Scrabo Tower, west of Newtownards in Northern Ireland. No crew was seen, however.

The major new players of season 5 have been introduced in a video at San Diego Comic Con, leading off with Alexander Siddig, a fan favorite for the role of Doran Martell, and finishing with the highly respected Jonathan Pryce revealed as the High Sparrow. The descriptions provided list Doran’s son Trystane as his heir, leading some to speculate that notable book character Arianne Martell may have been cut.

We’ve learned that the show is looking to cast several more minor characters: a fierce Dornish horse rider for an important scene, an Unsullied fighter, the Unsullied’s brothel worker companion, a captured vigilante referred to as a “Son,” a ship captain, an old woman who befriends Brienne, and a shrewd financially-minded man. Back in June, my sources told us GoT is also casting Varamyr Sixskins and two young girls, a blonde and a brunette. It’s speculated that the girls may be part of a flashback scene for Cersei.

WatchersOnTheWall sources report that the Walk, a highlight of A Dance with Dragons (don’t google this if you don’t want major spoilers!) will be filmed in Dubrovnik with several hundred extras, starting at the Dubrovnik Cathedral and ending a short distance away at the entrance of Sponza Palace. With the Walk planned and Pryce’s casting, the Faith storyline looks to be a major one in season 5.

On July 28th, Carice van Houten shared a photo of a soldier hinting that Castle Black scenes are being filmed. Belfast sightings of Kit Harington, John Bradley, and other cast members stationed at the Wall, along with Harington’s SDCC mention of filming on the 28th, points to the Night’s Watch actors having scenes the same day, possibly with Melisandre.

Locals have tweeted photos of a small castle set being built in Moneyglass, Northern Ireland, on a site used by the show several times before. The purpose of the castle is unknown at this time.

Production has returned in full force at Linen Mill Studios, in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. A photo of a ship with a prominent figurehead, back by a huge green screen, has found its way online.

Production crews have been spotted in Sallagh Braes, filming two separate scenes: one involving Gwendoline Christie and Daniel Portman, and another with several Knights of the Vale. A lucky fan spots the crews and snaps photos from a distance.

Game of Thrones will be filming in Iceland for a limited amount this season, and with no actors. The focus of filming this fall will be landscape shots only. Initially a large battle was planned for shooting in the country but had to be relocated due to lack of daylight hours in the fall.

Filming in Sibenik, Croatia will occur September 18th through the 23rd, according to Sibenik.in, with about 200 local extras needed. It’s believed that GoT will be filming around the town’s forts, and that they’re interested in the Cathedral of St. James, though the local diocese hasn’t yet allowed permission to film there.

Dubrovnik location filming will occur late-September through mid-October, according to the Dubrovnik Times. It’s expected for the Walk to filmed in this period, along with the usual exterior location shots along the city’s walls and streets.

House Martell has found its home in Spain. Filming will take place at the Real Alcázar in Seville from October 14-22, after which Game of Thrones production will move to Osuna. The water gardens of the Real Alcázar will be in use, as the show has obtained permission to temporarily dye dark blue the water around the Mercury Fountain.

The show has their eye on several locations in Osuna, Spain, including a bull ring. The bull ring would most likely feature in Daenerys’s storyline as Daznak’s Pit. The activities of the Pit are part of the growing tensions in the city of Meereen.

There, now we’re all caught up. Filming intensifies in Belfast as more cast members turn up in the city, and every day we learn something new. So for now, fans, keep watch. There’s more to come!