Game of Thrones fans think giant ice spiders will be introduced in season 8

George RR Martin has shared a terrifying illustration of the mythical creatures

The official Game of Thrones calendar has teased what could be the show’s scariest enemies yet.

A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin has teased artwork of creatures that were mentioned in the HBO fantasy series back in season one, and if you thought the Night King was bad, just wait until you feast your eyes on... giant ice spiders.

The moment arrives when Old Nan tells Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) about the horrors beyond the wall, including the White Walkers who, she says, “swept through cities and kingdoms, riding their dead horses, hunting with their packs of pale spiders big as hounds”.

Here's an official sneak peak of John Howe's cover art of our 2020 SoI&F calendar featuring the legendary ice spiders that appear in Old Nan's creepiest bedtime stories.

It seems Old Nan was also right about these. It’s unknown whether the artwork, drawn by John Howe, teases their appearance in the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones. However, fans are convinced they could feature in what is being touted as “the biggest ever battle” produced for television.

Ice spiders would join the ranks of direwolves, dragons and ice horses as the latest in a long line of CGI beings featured on the show.

Last week, HBO released another teaser for the final six episodes that offered a cinematic look at Daenerys’s Dragonstone battle-board which becomes engulfed in flames and ice.

The channel has revealed few official details regarding the forthcoming season, with the release date set as April 2019.

Teasing the final episodes, which will reportedly showcase the show’s most elaborate battle yet, co-executive producer Bryan Cogman said: “It’s about all of these disparate characters coming together to face a common enemy, dealing with their own past, and defining the person they want to be in the face of certain death.”

As the show will conclude this season, the network is already prepping prequel spin-offs for what has undoubtedly been its most successful TV show of all time.

Game of Thrones returns to HBO and Sky Atlantic in April 2019.