‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5 Confirmed to Include Flashbacks

'Game of Thrones' fan-favorite Charles Dance fueled speculation we might see his character again after season 4 finale "The Children," as have a number of production reports suggesting we might head into the past now again again for season 5. Now, showrunners confirm that 'Game of Thrones' season 5 will include flashbacks for the first time, allowing the possibility of other characters to return as well.

While any number of explanations could have put Dance's Tywin Lannister back into play, if only to lie on a table, showrunners. Dan Weiss and David Benioff recently confirmed that the normally present-set series would break one of its own supposed rules, and show flashbacks to certain characters. Speaking at an HBO event in Spain, here's what the two had to say:

Making the first season, we set a rule: No prophecies, dreams, or flashbacks. We already failed the first two, and this season we broke the third. So yes, this season will finally have flashbacks.

We'd guess that most prominently we'd see a young Cersei, considering all the character will likely go through this season, and the prospect of a more worthwhile return for Charles Dance. Then again, as it seems we'll have multiple flashbacks this season, any number of deceased characters could potentially be featured in the past.

While we wait for ‘Game of Thrones’ season 5, we know of both returning, absent, and a multitude of other new characters cast, including those that confirm we’ll be visiting the oft-mentioned kingdom of Dorne, for which Spain will double. We’ll also meet fewer new characters in season 5 than in prior years, as the next cycle will prove to be something of a midpoint for the series’ run. As expected, the story will draw heavily from George R.R. Martin‘s fourth and fifth novels, ‘A Feast for Crows’ and ‘A Dance with Dragons,' while HBO has also provided a list of directors.

What do you think? Will 'Game of Thrones' season 5 bring back any of its best characters in flashback this year, or will the story stick to a simpler approach? Whose past would you want to revisit when the new season premieres in spring 2015?