'Game of Thrones' Season 6 Release Date, News: Bran Stark Is Back; George R.R. Martin Blames HBO Series' Popularity For 'The Winds of Winter' Delay

Dec 30, 2015 08:21 PM EST

Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) did not appear in "Game of Thrones" season 5, and a lot of fans are now starting to miss him. Many are wondering if he will appear in Season 6 and it seems the answer to this question is in the affirmative.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Hempstead-Wright addressed questions on what could be expected of Bran Stark in the new season. Based on what he said, it is anticipated that his character will have a pivotal role in season 6. 

"Previously Bran's seen tiny glimpses of future or past but never has he been very much in control of the situation. Now we're given looks into very important events in the past, present, and future of this world and Bran is beginning to piece them together like a detective, almost as if he's watching the show. Equally, he's now discovering how crucial he could be in the Great War. It's quite Inception-y," the actor explained. 

While fans cannot wait for season 6 and see more of what the story could offer, the man behind it all, George R.R. Martin is none too pleased that the show is this popular. In a recent interview, the 67-year old recognizes that a lot of people are waiting for him to release the latest installment, "The Winds of Winter." However, he said that he cannot write at a faster pace because of the many distractions he now has to deal with, with his books being so popular. 

According to the acclaimed author, the popularity of the HBO series propelled him always to be interviewed, which is a great distraction to writing. Not only that, he now has to travel regularly, which is another distraction from writing. He denies having "writer's block." He even added that his staff grew just to make sure he would have time where there would be no distractions that would prevent him from writing.

"It's like suddenly I get invited to travel to South Africa or Dubai, and who's passing up a free trip to Dubai? I don't write when I travel. I don't write in hotel rooms. I don't write on airplanes," he explained. "I really have to be in my own house undisturbed to write. Through most of my life nobody did bother me, but now everyone bothers me every day," he added. "I have assistants and minions whose main job is to make sure people don't bother me so I can actually get writing done," he detailed. 

This is why when the season six of the HBO series arrives in the Spring, it would be the first time that the series continues without Martin's books to guide it. 

It remains to be seen how the book and the series will meet at the end, which the showrunner once promised to ensure. 

Season 6 of "Game of Thrones" is due in April 2016.