George R.R. Martin is the writer of one of the most famous fantasy book series in the world - A Song of Ice and Fire - and people have now also fallen in love with the television series based on those books - Game of Thrones.
George R.R. Martin / Credit: FAMOUS
However, the author may now have spoiled the sixth season of the show - coming to HBO and Sky Atlantic in spring 2016 - by letting slip the fate of one of his characters, or at least that character's fate in his book series.
Asked by a fan whether or not Stannis Baratheon is really dead, as showrunners for Game of Thrones have been stating, Martin replied: "In my books? Alive, beyond a doubt."
Both a spoiler for book readers and those who watch the series if the writers follow this story thread precisely, it ruins any element of surprise the new episodes may have when they debut next year.
Fans have ever since Stannis' 'death' both in the books and on-screen doubted his actual fate, and he's not the only character who's left people with their own theories.
Certain actors whose times on the show looked to have come to an end have this year been spotted in filming locations for Game of Thrones, but up until now whether or not Stephen Dillane is returning has been kept underwraps.
All this being said it is very possible that Stannis IS dead in the television series. The books and show have differed on certain key plot points so it's not hard to imagine this being just another example of that. But with that said, the series has never shyed away from showing deaths on-screen before, and so when Brienne's supposed deathblow reigned down onto Stannis and we cut to a different scene, it was difficult to believe he'd really died.
Everything will be revealed when Game of Thrones season 6 premieres next year.
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