What We Can Expect From Game Of Thrones Season Six

It feels like a long time until next April, when the next installment of Game of Thrones is rumored to hit our screens. To while away the time between now and then, we present ten predictions, rumors, and casting leaks to get you in the mood for season six.

Fresh from the GoT rumor mill comes news that 13-year-old English actor Sebastian Croft has been cast as a young Ned Stark in season six. Don't hold your breath for the introduction of a time machine-style contraption, but it does look likely that flashbacks of some sort are on the way.

We didn't see the paralyzed Bran and the grunting Hodor at all during season five, but we know they're heading back in season six. What's less clear is exactly where they are and what they're doing, now that the television show has caught up with the books—an oddball traveling circus act, perhaps? Don't rule anything out.

He's dead, isn't he? Isn't he? The grisly end of Jon Snow was one of the most dramatic moments of season five, but the rumor that the latest Lord Commander of the Night's Watch is going to come back refuses to... erm... die. The hopes of fans across the world have been rekindled since actor Kit Harington was spotted in Belfast where the new series is being filmed.

We know from a season six casting call that the showrunners will likely introduce Sam's father—he was mentioned at the end of season five—and the fact that this character is "centrally involved" would suggest more screen time for Sam and Gilly. Fans of Sam, this could be your favorite season of all.

One of the architects of the Red Wedding is back on the scene in season six: David Bradley has been one of the few actors to reveal anything about the upcoming series, confirming that his character Walter Frey will indeed return next time around. Bradley didn't elaborate any further, but we're assuming it probably won't end well.

According to a leaked script, there's a new red priestess in Game of Thrones from next season, and her prophecies might just turn out to be a lot more accurate than Melisandre's have been so far. Kinvara apparently turns up in Mereen with Tyrion and Varys.

Winter has been coming for five long seasons now—that's fifty episodes—and it looks likely that the sixth series will be the one where the White Walkers finally make their assault on the Wall. They certainly warmed up for it nicely with the "Hardhome" episode in season five, so the Night's Watch will have to get its act together very, very quickly.

The Boltons are vying with the Lannisters for the most hateable family on the show, and we saw Tyrion and Cersei get plenty of punishment in season five—it must be the Boltons' turn in season six, even with their recent military victory. Sansa and Theon are on the run, Brienne is out for revenge, and we reckon Roose and Ramsay should watch their backs.

Casting announcements are where the most concrete news for season six can be found, and we know for sure that acting legend Max von Sydow will turn up in the new series. He'll be taking over from Struan Rodger as the Three-Eyed Raven, responsible for training Bran to harness the supernatural powers he's been given.

Qyburn's Monster—aka Gregor Clegane, aka The Mountain—spent much of season five lying under a sheet twitching, but we'd expect him to make a dramatic return to the action in the upcoming season—indeed we get a sneak preview right at the end of the fifth season. Fans of excessive violence and menace, brace yourselves.