'Winter is Coming': cryptic 'Game of Thrones' tweet has fans speculating

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in 'Game of Thrones'. Courtesy OSN

On Wednesday evening, the official Game of Thrones Twitter account posted a cryptic tweet that simply read: "Winter is Coming".

The tweet references a well-known line from the show and has since triggered an online storm. It has led to some fans wondering whether the show’s divisive eighth and final season might possibly receive a remake. Most, however, are taking the opportunity to lambast showrunners for “that last garbage season.”

Less than a day since the tweet was posted, it has already been shared more than 60,000 times. The comments responding to the tweet contain almost 10,000 messages, most of which express resentment or lack of enthusiasm at the announcement.

“Yeah, I’m not falling for that again,” wrote eSports commentator Clint Evans.

“Leave us alone,” Toni Vaxton wrote in all caps.

“Please redo season eight,” Twitter user Harsh wrote. “You mean six to eight,” Wouter W added.

Game of Thrones, which premiered on HBO in April 2011, is gearing up to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The fantasy series, based on George R R Martin's saga A Song of Fire and Ice, was one of the most popular TV epics of the decade.

The first few seasons of the show, which centred on battles to rule Westeros amid threats from mythical forces beyond its border, were initially critically acclaimed, winning Emmy and Golden Globe awards.

Game of Thrones became a worldwide cultural phenomenon almost immediately after it premiered. However, with the lackluster finale, fans were angry and accused showrunners David Benioff and D B Weiss of lazily wrapping up the series, leaving behind several frayed plot lines and undeveloped characters.

The series came under fire earlier this month after HBO also released a new, uncut trailer to of season eight. Like the tweet, the trailer stirred up gripes over the show's controversial ending.

"Season eight was like if Frodo realised he could snap the One Ring in half like a twig as soon as he reached Mordor," wrote one commenter underneath the clip on YouTube, referencing The Lord of the Rings.

"Are you guys remaking it? Because if you’re not, then it’s better to not release a trailer for it again and remind us of something we wanna forget," added another.

Scroll through our gallery below to see photos from 'Game of Thrones' final season.

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  Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen stand together in this shot ahead of season eight. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark in 'Game of Thrones', has revealed she is happy to be paid less than co-star Kit Harington. Courtesy HBO

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  Arya Stark returns for season eight. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Bran Stark was absent from the trailer but appears in the first-look cast shots. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Samwell Tarly makes the final cut. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Brienne of Tarth. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Jon Snow in the season finale of Game of Thrones. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Lord Tyrion Lannister in Game of Throne's season eight cast shots. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Jaime Lannister wearing new armour. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  The mother of dragons. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Cersie Lannister wears a crown in the final season. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Varys makes an appearance in the final season. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Davos Seaworth, played by Liam Cunningham, has a thick Geordie accent in 'Game of Thrones'. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO

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  Cersei Lannister is pictured near the Iron Throne. Courtesy Helen Sloan / HBO