“Game of Thrones” will return for its eighth and final season on HBO this April. Including its upcoming installment, the fantasy epic’s run is comprised of 73 episodes. Just four of those episodes were directed by a woman. Michelle MacLaren directed two episodes in both Season 3 and Season 4 of the beloved George R. R. Martin adaptation. Seasons 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 saw no women step behind the camera. A highly anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel is in the works at HBO, and even though the story is going backwards in time, the show is going forward behind the scenes. S.J. Clarkson has been hired to direct the untitled project’s pilot, according to Variety.

Set thousands of years before the events depicted in “Game of Thrones,” the prequel “chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend — it’s not the story we think we know,” the source hints. The series’ ensemble cast is led by two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts and includes Naomi Ackie (“The Bisexual”), Denise Gough (“Colette”), and Sheila Atim (“Harlots”), among others.

The project hails from “X-Men: First Class” scribe Jane Goldman and “Game of Thrones” author and co-executive producer George R.R. Martin. The former will serve as showrunner.

In addition to helming the pilot, Clarkson will exec produce. “Jessica Jones,” “Orange Is the New Black,” and “Dexter” are among her previous credits. She’s signed on to direct “Star Trek 4,” making her the first woman to helm a feature in the “Star Trek” franchise.