Five takeaways from the week in TV:
1. OMG, OMG, “Game of Thrones’’ news! HBO released a trailer for season seven, which will premiere on July 16. It is mysterious, naturally, with Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) walking slowly toward seats — with Cersei, exhaling, as she takes the Iron Throne. Winter is in the air, as frosty breath comes out of Cersei’s mouth. Last shot: the Night King. Musical accompaniment: “Sit Down’’ by James.
2. Amazon hearts the Grateful Dead. On May 26, the streamer will drop a documentary called, of course, “Long Strange Trip,’’ as previously announced. But this week Amazon announced an upcoming scripted series about the Dead, to be written by Jonathan Herman, the screenwriter of “Straight Outta Compton.’’ The show will be based on a memoir by Steve Parish, a longtime Dead roadie, and Dead guitarist Bob Weir will be one of the executive producers.
3. HBO is partnering with RAI, Italy’s public broadcasting, to adapt Elena Ferrante’s “My Brilliant Friend,’’ the first volume of Ferrante’s four-book Neapolitan series. Saverio Costanzo will direct all eight episodes, which will be written by Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci, and Costanzo.
4. Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon are producing and directing a two-part, four-hour documentary on Muhammad Ali for PBS. “He arrived at exactly the right moment, amidst the tumult and upheaval of the 1960s,’’ Ken Burns says in the release, “and he shaped his times with his powerful voice, mesmerizing presence, and achievements in the ring. But beyond the astonishing athletic gifts and mountain of charisma, there’s a very complex, dynamic man whose life story has yet to receive the comprehensive treatment it deserves.’’ It’s due in 2021. In the meantime, Burns’s 10-part PBS series “The Vietnam War’’ will begin this September.
5. “The Mindy Project’’ is coming to an end. Mindy Kaling’s comedy, which started on Fox and moved to Hulu, will wrap for good after the sixth season, which will premiere in September.
Matthew Gilbert can be reached at gilbert@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewGilbert.
