Hodor appeared along season 7 cast members in a new HBO promo. Does it mean anything?

Season 7 is still months away, but HBO has begun to drop lots of Game of Thrones-related promos on us, and we’re not complaining. The latest features a variety of cast members all dressed in the outfits they’ll be wearing in season 7 trying to make that static noise you hear before every episode of an HBO show. Here’s just the Game of Thrones folk:

https://twitter.com/ThePixelFactor/status/850391213928849410

One of these guys sticks out: Kristian Nairn, aka Hodor. Hodor died during the season 6 episode “The Door,” ripped to shreds by wights as he held the door and gave Bran and Meera enough time to escape. If this promo includes only cast members who will be in season 7, what does his appearance here mean? Was Nairn on set filming material when they took the cast aside and shot this thing?

If Hodor is in season 7, it’s possible that he could play a wight. Kristian Nairn himself previously speculated about that before filming on season 7 — he doesn’t sound like a fan.

As much as I would like to come back and play a White Walker, I think it would be wrong. There are too many emotions tied up, it would be a bit of a travesty to bring him back. If they’re going to do it, I’m sure they’d find a really cool way to do it. Whatever happens, it’s probably not going to end well. A zombie Hodor is not a pretty thought.

No, it’s not. The Night King could certainly make use of Hodor’s prodigious strength, and seeing Hodor at the head of an undead horde could be emotionally devastating for members of House Stark, particularly Bran. It would be painful for the fans, too — bringing Hodor back like that may be too dark for even HBO.

Then again, Hodor doesn’t look like a wight in the promo — his clothes aren’t torn (well, not more than usual) and his eyes aren’t blue. But he doesn’t need to be a wight to be in season 7. Hodor could also appear during one of Bran’s trips into the past, whether at Winterfell or on the road to the Three-Eyed Raven’s cave.

Or it could all be a red herring. Perhaps Nairn had a quick hole in his schedule and the costume was still laying around, so HBO had him come in and shoot his bit. Or maybe they’re trying to throw us off balance — it wouldn’t be the first time. We’ll have to wait until July 16 to learn the truth.

• Published on 04/08/2017 at 11:00 AM CDT
• Last updated on 04/08/2017 at 11:00 AM CDT