Game Of Thrones Season 8 Is Only 6 Episodes, Season 7 Adds Ed Sheeran

[UPDATE] It was also confirmed at SXSW that Game of Thrones Season 8 is only six episodes long, according to Entertainment Weekly.

"It's only going to be six episodes for the final season," showrunner David Benioff said. "From the beginning we've wanted to tell a 70-hour movie. It will turn out to be a 73-hour movie, but it's stayed relatively the same of having the beginning, middle and now we're coming to the end. It would have been really tough if we lost any core cast members along the way, I'm very happy we've kept everyone and we get to finish it the way we want to."

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Singer Ed Sheeran will have a cameo in Game of Thrones Season 7, it was announced today at South By Southwest in Texas.

"For years, we tried to get Ed Sheeran on the show to surprise [Arya Stark actress Maisie Williams], and this year we finally did it," showrunner David Benioff said, according to Variety.

We don't know anything at all about Sheeran's character or how he fits into the story. Asked for more details, an HBO representative told Variety, "He has a role. No more details."

Also during the panel, Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) said she's hopeful for another singer to join Game of Thrones. "I'm still waiting on Bieber," she said, referencing Justin Bieber. Weiss jokingly responded, "You're waiting on Biebs? Season 9."

The joke here is that Game of Thrones is expected to end after Season 8.

Sheeran isn't the only musician to have a cameo in Game of Thrones. Members of the band Mastodon appeared in a Season 5 episode. As for other Season 7 cameos, New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard will play a Wildling.

Sheeran also had a role on Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter's Bastard Executioner.

Game of Thrones Season 7 premieres on July 16.