There's still a ways to go before the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones begins in 2019, but luckily that doesn't mean we have to say goodbye to Westeros for good. HBO announced that a prequel series was in the works back in June, and the studio has officially set a location and start date for production. So this is really happening!

According to Belfast Telegraph, the series will begin filming this October in Belfast through Paint Hall studios in the city's Titanic Quarter. Paint Hall studios handled most of the filming for the main Game of Thrones series and will also handle a Star Wars spinoff next year.

The prequel pilot, which author George R.R. Martin revealed has the working title The Long Night, is set thousands of years before the events of the A Song of Ice and Fire series. In other words, fans shouldn't expect to see favorites like Jon Snow or Sansa Stark from the current story in Game of Thrones. HBO has only ordered the pilot, so things are still very much in the early stages. Until then, keep your eye on the rest of our Game of Thrones coverage as we count down until the start of season eight.