Sophie Turner says that the final series of Game of Thrones will be 'bloodier' and 'more emotionally torturous' than ever

Sophie Turner, the actress who plays Sansa Stark in hit fantasy drama Game of Thrones, has warned that series eight  will be 'bloodier'and 'more emotionally torturous' than ever before. 

The final series of Game of Thrones will air next year after a painfully long two-year wait, and Turner seems to suggest it will be worth the anticipation. 

When pushed for possible series eight spoilers, Turner told Gold Derby: "Everyone is coming together to fight the impending doom. There’s a lot of tension between these little groups, battling for what they think is right.

"It’s Game of Thrones, so it’s going to be bloodier and more death and more emotionally torturous than all the years before."

Turner also spoke about the development of her character, Lady Sansa Stark who has transformed from a docile princess into a force to be reckoned with, saying: "I always had the feeling that she was learning and adapting and at some point or another it was going to manifest itself somehow, and she manifested it into being a warrior.

"It felt really satisfying when it happened, and I’m really happy where this story line for her has ended up...We have really powerful women on this show, all in their own right and in their own ways."

Fans have long speculated the subject of the next series, with many believing it will be the final battle between the living tribes of Westeros and the near-invisible ice zombies, known as the White Walkers. Given the show's love of gratuitously gory battles and even bigger budgets, it is likely to be involved.

Furthermore, series eight will have six episodes, one fewer than season seven which had already seen a drastic cut from the usual ten. However, it is thought that each episode will be between feature length, between 60 and 120 minutes, to contain yet more epic scenes.

HBO are not losing their golden goose franchise yet, however, as a prequel to the series, Age of Heroes, is reportedly in the works. Which means fans may still get their fix of Westeros for at least a few more years to come. 

Game of Thrones stars at Kit Harington and Rose Leslie's wedding

Last weekend, Turner was seen alongside many of her Game of Thrones co-stars celebrating the wedding of her on-screen brother, Kit Harington to Rose Leslie in Aberdeenshire. 

The final series of Game of Thrones will air in 2019.