New ‘ Game of Thrones’ online illegally
Spoilers are coming. The first four episodes of the highly anticipated fifth season of “Game of Thrones” leaked online Saturday night— a full 24 hours before the show’s HBO premiere.
The cable network quickly ruled out a Sony-style hacker attack and instead pointed the finger at screeners sent out to the media.
“Sadly, it seems the leaked four episodes of the upcoming season of ‘ Game of Thrones’ originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them,” HBO wrote in a statement. “We’re actively assessing how this breach occurred.”
The stunningly violent “Game of Thrones” has held the crown for more than three years as the most-pirated show on TV, as many fans don’t have access to HBO.
But the premium cable network has been working to change that, launching its standalone streaming service— HBO NOW— last week. The service gives users their first opportunity towatch the show with-out a cable subscription, offering a 30day free trial before requiring people to cough up $ 14.99 per month. It is currently only available via iTunes and Cablevision’s Opti-mum Online Internet service.
Fans of the fantasy series quickly snatched up the leaked episodes, with more than 1 million downloads since the sneak peek was illegally released Saturday night, according to download site TorrentFreak.
This season is likely to catch up or surpass George R. R. Martin’s books, leaving all possibilities open in the Seven Kingdoms. Michael Lombardo, HBO’s president of programming, said the realm should expect “some tectonic shifts.”
“It is one of the more emotional and harrowing seasons we’ve had,” Lombardo told Entertainment Weekly. “It builds. It starts off, as all ‘ Game of Thrones’ seasons do, by bringing you back into the world and then quickly moving toward a crescendo.”
Dragons, which have been a big part of HBO’s teases leading up to the premiere, will play a big role this season.
“Dragons can never be tamed,” the official @GameOfThrones Twitter account posted on Sunday with a photo of blonde beauty Daenerys Targaryen looking into one of her deadly beast’s eyes.
Fanfavorite actor Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, teased that his character may meet up with Targaryen this season.
“He’s curious,” Dinklage told EW. “He wants to know her in person and is tired of hearing stories.
“And I think dragons are a big part of it— everybody is denying the reality of these creatures and certainly Tyrion has as well,” he added. “But just like Tyrion going to The Wall in season one, he likes to see things firsthand.”