"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground," Cersei Lannister once said. And it seems her words will prove prophetic.

The eighth and final season of "Game of Thrones" was always likely to feature some deaths of beloved characters. But at the INTV Conference in Israel, HBO SVP of drama Francesca Orsi teased many, many the deaths.

"It was a really powerful moment in our lives and our careers," she said of the table read for the last six episodes.

"None of the cast had received the scripts prior, and one by one they started falling down to their deaths."

At the conclusion of the table read, the cast and crew applauded for a 15-minute standing ovation, Orsi said.

"It was amazing. By the very end, everyone looked down and looked up and tears were in their eyes."

"Game of Thrones" Season 8 is likely to premiere sometime in 2019.