Torturous as it is that Game of Thrones Season 7 won’t join its predecessors with a spring premiere, the shortened episode count should only push the HBO drama so far out of its usual home. Now, star Liam Cunningham suggests HBO is looking at a July premiere, with production resuming in late summer.

Where previously HBO would only specify a summer 2017 premiere for the seven-episode Game of Thrones return, Cunningham clearly stated to the Irish Independent that a July premiere was the current plan. Additionally, the once and (we hope) future Davos Seaworth’s suggestion of a special premiere plan could hint at a reason for all the secrecy:

I’ve been disappointing various people around the world because it was meant to come out in April. It’s July now, I think … There’s going to be a launch and something special happening this year for the premiere. The bad news is, there will only be seven episodes and the final season starts again as far as I know in September.

Presumably, Cunningham was referring to production of Season 8 resuming in September, which we’ll take as a positive sign for Davos’ chances in Season 7. All the same, HBO has yet to specify an official episode count for the final season, though most suggestions have placed it at six.

We’ll hear more of Game of Thrones Season 7 in the coming weeks and months, but will HBO finally step forth with an official date? Maybe a teaser? A poster? We’re dying here, guys.

More From ScreenCrush