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HBO Boss on ‘Game of Thrones’ End Date and Possible Spinoff, ‘Deadwood’ Revival, ‘Curb’ Return Date

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By Michael Ausiello

The Deadwood revival movie remains on track and Game of Thrones is indeed nearing the finish line.

At HBO’s portion of the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Saturday, the cabler’s new programming president Casey Bloys confirmed that Deadwood creator David Milch is “writing the script,” adding, “We haven’t read it yet. I imagine it will be very good. I feel good about it… But I can’t tell you that [it’s happening] for sure.”

Bloys’ predecessor, Michael Lombardo, was decidedly more bullish on the project, telling TVLine back in January that the Deadwood pic “is going to happen.”

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Also at HBO’s exec session, Bloys confirmed that Game of Thrones‘ delayed Season 7 premiere will take the show out of the 2017 Emmy race, but insisted awards are “not our main goal. The main goal is to do the best show for our subscribers and fans. … [The Emmy fallout] is just something we have to live with.”

Bloys also confirmed that GoT will conclude with its eighth season and that a spinoff has been discussed. “We’ve talked about it,” he said. “It’s something I’m not opposed to, but it has to make sense creatively. I’m open to it. The guys aren’t opposed to it, but there’s no concrete plans.”

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Other key takeaways/announcements from Bloys’ presser:

* J.J. Abrams’ big-budget Westworld will premiere Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9/8c, while Sarah Jessica Parker’s Divorce will bow Sunday, Oct. 9 at 10/9c, followed by new comedy Insecure at 10:30/9:30c.

* Jon Stewart’s previously-announced deal with HBO will find the Daily Show vet producing “an animated parody of a cable news network. It will be Jon’s voice — actual voice and tone.”

* The Leftovers‘ third and final season will debut in 2017 (possibly filling GoT‘s now-available spring launch spot.)

* True Detective is “not dead,” Bloys maintained when asked about the potential for a third season. “I’m just not sure we have the right take for a third season yet.”

* Production on Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s ninth season will commence this fall ahead of an expected 2017 premiere. (Bloys initially misspoke and said Curb would not be return until 2018.)

* Regarding the decision to renew and then cancel Vinyl, Bloys said, “The decision to pick it up was an optimistic one… With a little bit of distance… it really becomes about priorities. The tough decision [came down to], ‘Are we going to get this from good to great?’ I didn’t know if we were going to make it. And if I’ve got limited resources, there are other things I want to do.”

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