‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7 Features New Alliances, Reunions; UFC fighter Conor McGregor Cast in Secret Role to Fight Against The Mountain?

‘Game of Thrones’ season 7 is set to feature new alliances as well as reunions as teased by Sansa actress Sophie Turner. Meanwhile, it was reported that UFC fighter Conor McGregor has joined the cast. It was speculated that his mystery character is set to face off against The Mountain in the incoming season.

According to Express, HBO teased that the new season of ‘Game of Thrones’ will focus a good deal on the Starks of Winterfell through a short preview video released featuring Turner’s Sansa, Kit Harington’s Jon Snow, and Maisie Williams’ Arya.

In the trailer, Sansa trudged through a snowy landscape while Jon looked worried while facing a yet unidentified character. Meanwhile, Arya was seen in a bulky Northerner coat on horseback. It seems that the Stark siblings will be headed for a reunion after being separated for so long. Season 6 saw the heartwarming reunion of Sansa with bastard brother Jon and together they defeated Ramsay Bolton’s (Iwan Rheon) army during the episode “Battle of the Bastards.”

During an interview with The Wrap, Turner teased that season 7 will feature new developments in the series’ storyline including reunions and alliances. She said, “It really feels like everyone is coming together… It’s coming to a conclusion and people are forming alliances with other characters, maybe that they’ve seen before, maybe that they haven’t. There are definitely a few reunions happening this season — or unions. There were a few that I’m quite excited about.”

It was previously speculated that Sansa may betray Jon in favor of joining Petyr Baelish a.k.a. Little Finger (Aidan Gillen) while Jon would team up with Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). It was also rumored that Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) would abandon his own twin sister Cersei (Lena Headey) to help in a greater cause.

Meanwhile, UFC fighter Conor McGregor is reportedly joining the massive cast in the new season. According to the Independent, McGregor was cast in a secret role after being “headhunted” by HBO, as one of the directors is a huge fan of the Irish mixed martial artist. It was also reported that McGregor signed for the last two remaining seasons of the fantasy-drama series.

It is interesting to note that McGregor had previous fighting experience with Icelandic professional strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who plays Sir Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane. It was speculated that his mysterious character may face off with The Mountain in the incoming season.

‘Game of Thrones’ season 7 is expected to return on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic in the UK in summer 2017.