HBO’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 4 Return Date Revealed; Network To Bid Goodbye To ‘Boardwalk Empire’ After Season 5

The fantasy drama series “Game of Thrones” kicks off its fourth season on April 6. The series is based on “A Song of Ice and Fire,” a series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin.

HBO made the announcement at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 9 and the first trailer of the new season will be unveiled this Sunday, alongside the series premiere of HBO’s highly anticipated crime series, “True Detective.”

After the deaths of several major characters in the last season of “Game of Thrones,” the cast for the fourth season will include Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kit Harington among the others.

Along with the announcement of the return of “Game of Thrones,” HBO also revealed that the upcoming fifth season of the American period drama, “Boardwalk Empire” will be the series’ last.

“It has been an incredible honor to bring this powerful and groundbreaking series to our subscribers,” Michael Lombardo, programming president of HBO, reportedly said. “Terry Winter has created one for the ages.”

The fifth season of “Boardwalk Empire” is slated to air later this year. The drama was created by “The Sopranos” writer and executive producer Terence Winter.

“We're thrilled to get the go-ahead for a fifth season of Boardwalk Empire,” Winter reportedly said. “After much discussion with my creative team and HBO, we've decided to wrap up the series after such a great run and look forward to bringing it to a powerful and exciting conclusion.”

HBO will also launch the third season of “Veep” and its new Mike Judge comedy series “Silicon Valley” on April 6.