Two big HBO series to skip San Diego Comic-Con this year

CALIFORNIA, U.S. - For the first time in years, the premium cable network HBO has decided to sit out of the annual pop culture confab, the San Diego Comic-Con 2018.

In what came as disappointing news to millions of hard core fans, HBO announced on Friday that two of its biggest series, Game of Thrones and Westworld won’t be at the San Diego Comic-Con this year.

HBO has decided to sit out the July 18-22 pop culture fest citing production schedules.

In a statement making the announcement, HBO said, “Due to production schedules and air dates for Game of Thrones and Westworld, these series will not be presented at San Diego Comic-Con this summer. HBO has a longstanding relationship with SDCC, and we are very grateful for the fans’ enthusiastic response over the years. We look forward to returning in the future.”

HBO has remained tight-lipped about the air dates of these shows, even as excitement has built across the world. 

The final eight season of Game of Thrones won’t air until 2019.

And even though the David Benioff and D.B. Weiss-EP’d series based on George R.R. Martin’s books has been a constant crowdpleaser at SDCC since its first season, fans of the show won’t get any exclusive previews into the epic eighth and final season of the two-time Emmy Best Drama winner this year.

Meanwhile, the season two finale of Westworld will air on June 24. The series has not resumed production for the previously announced third season so far.

The premium cable network’s decision means that, this year, there will be no panels for the two HBO hits at SDCC, which has always been an exclusive opportunity for fans to meet and greet the stars of their favorite shows.

Game of Thrones will be skipping its annual trip to San Diego Comic-Con for the first time ever.

Ever since the show debuted, it has appeared at the fest every year and has ranked among the most anticipated panels of the massive marketing event. 

Meanwhile, Westworld made its SDCC debut last year. 

Further, reports noted that HBO has also decided to forgo the marketing side this year. 

At the event last year, the Westworld and Game of Thrones interactive activations were the breakout hits, but will be absent this time.