HBO *probably* just confirmed “Game of Thrones” isn’t coming back until 2019

After months of speculation, it appears HBO has finally confirmed (our) dreaded news: Game of Thrones will return for its final season in 2019.

The news shouldn’t be too much of a shock, as Sophie Turner confirmed the date last week, Liam Cunningham alluded to it a few months ago, and even HBO programming president Casey Bloys couldn’t promise a 2018 return during the TCA press tour over the summer. But, let’s face it, there was definitely a small part of us that still hoped for a 2018 return. So now we must come to terms with the fact that we have at least another year — most likely a year and then some — before Game of Thrones come back into to our lives.

But HBO did break the news in the best way possible. No, Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke didn’t take us out for drinks before sharing the heartbreaking news, and Cunningham didn’t sit us down with a cup of tea. And while we wish Joe Dempsie broke the news by likening the absence of Game of Thrones to that time Gendry rowed away for a little while, HBO’s method was definitely up there.

HBO released a preview of what’s returning and premiering on the premium cable channel in 2018 and as you can see, Game of Thrones is nowhere to be found.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZ6xGmrLJY?feature=oembed

But while our beloved Game of Thrones has rowed away for a year and change, HBO is giving us a hell of a consolation prize through a lot of incredible programming in 2018. The trailer features glimpses of hot new series Succession, Here and Now, Barry, original film Paterno, and documentaries on André the Giant, Arthur Miller, and Elvis Presley. It also highlights the return of HBO favorites like Insecure, Crashing, Divorce, Ballers, Last Week Tonight, and Westworld, which returns for Season 2 more than a year after its groundbreaking first season.

The company also teased two of the most highly anticipated events of 2018: The HBO original film Fahrenheit 451, and Jean-Marc Vallée’s limited series Sharp Objects, based on the novel by Gillian Flynn.

Just look at this:

There are no words. While we only get one shot of Michael B. Jordan (Guy Montag) and Michael Shannon (Captain Beatty), it’s all we need to know that Fahrenheit 451 is going to be an epic adaptation of the Ray Bradbury novel.

Meanwhile, Sharp Objects has arrived to fill the Big Little Lies void in our lives.

Amy Adams is gracing the small-screen alongside Patricia Clarkson and Elizabeth Perkins in this eight-episode drama about a journalist returning to her small town to report on a series of murders.

While we’re devastated that Game of Thrones won’t be back in 2018, we’re so glad HBO is providing us with some incredible programming to ease the pain.