Next Game Of Thrones Episode Is Longest-Ever For The Series

The next episode of Game of Thrones will be the longest ever for the acclaimed HBO series. Season 8, Episode 3 has a run time of 82 minutes, which is 2 minutes longer than the Season 7 finale, "The Dragon and the Wolf," which was the previous record-holder for length.

The new episode, which doesn't have a title yet, airs Sunday, April 28. It'll be followed up by three further episodes that are all within four minutes of the record for longest-ever. Episode 4 is 78 minutes long; Episode 5 is 80 minutes in duration; and the series final Episode 6 runs for 80 minutes. The episode runtimes were announced by HBO back in March.

Given the way things ended in Episode 2 and the first teaser for Episode 3, this new episode could be the one that shows some or all of the epic battle scene that's been hinted at since the show started back in 2011. The Night King and his army are lined up to do battle against Jon Snow, Dany, and other fighters at Winterfell in what could be the show's defining moment.

Episode 3 is directed by Miguel Sapochnik, who previously directed the Battle of the Bastards episode. According to a report, the upcoming Battle of Winterfell scene "longest consecutive battle sequence ever committed to film." At 40 minutes, the Helm's Deep battle from The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers is said to be the longest battle sequence from cinema history.

Co-executive producer Bryan Cogman spoke about the epic battle scene, calling it unprecedented for TV or film.

"What we have asked the production team and crew to do this year truly has never been done in television or in a movie," he explained. "This final face-off between the Army of the Dead and the army of the living is completely unprecedented and relentless and a mixture of genres even within the battle. There are sequences built within sequences built within sequences. [Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss wrote] an amazing puzzle and Miguel came in and took it apart and put it together again. It's been exhausting but I think it will blow everybody away."

Filming the episode took 11 weeks of night shoots. According to the report, up to 750 people worked all night for almost three months in sub-freezing temperatures and enduring cold rain, mud, and heavy wind.

The actor who plays Ser Jorah Mormont, Iain Glen, said filming the battle was the "most unpleasant experience I've had on Thrones."

"A real test, really miserable. You get to sleep at seven in the morning and when you wake in the midday you're still so spent you can't really do anything, and then you're back," he added. "You have no life outside it. You have an absolute f**ked bunch of actors. But without getting too method [acting] about it, on screen it bleeds through to the reality of the Thrones world."

For lots more on this week's episode of Game of Thrones, check out the stories below:

• Game Of Thrones Finally Fulfills Two Years-Long Fan Ships
• Game Of Thrones Season 8: Jon Snow's Direwolf Ghost Is Back--Did You Catch His Stealthy Return?
• Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2 Review: A Long Night And A New Knight
• Game Of Thrones Season 8: This Theory Explains How Sean Bean's Ned Stark Might Return In Episode 3
• Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2: The Meaning Behind "Jenny's Song"
• Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 2: Brienne And Jaime Just Made Westerosi History
• Game Of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3 Teaser Previews The Big Battle Coming