‘Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey Confirms Prophecy Still in Play for Season 8

Game of Thrones Season 7 upended more than a few theories about the overall story, but Cersei in particular seemed to upset one of the show’s own prophecies. Now, Lena Headey’s reaction to Cersei meeting Daenerys puts the infamous premonition in play, potentially revealing a major twist next season.

You’re warned of full spoilers through Game of Thrones Season 7 from here on out, but foremost among the “Cersei is faking her pregnancy” theories was the Season 5 Maggy the Frog prophecy that Cersei would only have three children. Season 5 actually showed us said flashback (omitting a portion we’ll come back to), leaving fans to wonder if either Cersei’s pregnancy abandoned the prophecy, or if the baby might not be brought to term.

Entertainment Weekly spoke to Headey about the big Dragonpit meeting with Daenerys Targaryen, in the process revealing that another portion of Maggy’s warning was very much on Cersei’s mind:

I think she’s immediately envious because Daenerys is more beautiful and younger than she is and the prophecy says somebody younger and more beautiful will take her place so I’m sure that’s at the forefront of her mind. And Tyrion is her Hand, so she couldn’t be any worse.

The rest of the prophecy was otherwise dead-on, stating Cersei would marry a king (Robert Baratheon) and have three children (Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen), all of whom would die in her lifetime. Unstated on the show, but prominent in the books is that Cersei would also be killed by a “Valonqar” (High Valyrian for “little brother”), which most ascribe to either Tyrion or Jamie in one circumstance or another.

Still, the fact that Headey’s characterization is still adhering to the prophecy brings the “three children” question back to the forefront. There are at least a few semantic ways around Cersei having only three kids, but – given the compressed timeframe – we’re also left to wonder if the final six episodes span enough time for her to theoretically give birth. Cersei’s pregnancy was also a major mystery left on the table with Tyrion, as “The Dragon and the Wolf” cut from Tyrion’s realization to he and Cersei having apparently worked out a (facetious) deal to back Jon and Dany, which later gave him pause.

It still seems unlikely Cersei was faking her good news, but does the prophecy preclude a fourth Lannister child? Stay tuned for more on Season 8 as we brave the long road.