Game of Thrones was the biggest fantasy show ever to air, and although it came to an end in 2019, the world of Westeros isn’t done yet. House of the Dragon is on its way to HBO and will serve as a prequel to the show.
If you want to know more about this brand new program, read on. For fans of the fantasy genre, we also have a similar recap for Season 3 of The Witcher on Netflix. Alternatively, here’s all the information you need if you want to rewatch Game of Thrones in its entirety.
House of the Dragon release date
HBO has now confirmed that House of the Dragon will be released on August 21, 2022 in the US and August 22, 2022 in the UK. Episodes come out every Sunday in the US and every Monday in the UK.
The show has been ordered for a total of ten episodes – the same length as the first series of Game of Thrones. Variety also revealed that George RR Martin has signed a five-year deal to create content with HBO and HBO Max, so this could mean House of the Dragon will be running at least that time.
House of the Dragon Trailers
The first full trailer for House of the Dragon is here, and it promises a lot of politics, countless dragons and battle scenes. Check it out below:
The first teaser trailer for House of the Dragon shows off a redesigned Iron Throne (closer to the original design from the books) and a look at some of the characters. Take a look below:
The second teaser trailer shows a very different Westeros from what we saw in Game of Thrones, and a brief look at a dragon:
You can also see the official character posters on the House of the Dragon Twitter page – there are nine in total:
Who are the cast and crew of House of the Dragon?
The series creator – George RR Martin – is developing the series with Colony creator Ryan Condal, who will serve as the show’s lead writer and co-runner.
Miguel Sapochnik is working with him who will also direct the pilot episode and several others in the series. Sapochnik directed both Battle of the Bastards and Winds of Winter, two of the highest-rated Game of Thrones episodes overall.
The role of Viserys I will be played by Paddy Considine, HBO has confirmed. The actor is best known for his work in The Outsider, The Death of Stalin and Hot Fuzz. Viserys I plays a pivotal role in Westeros and the Civil War that will no doubt take center stage in House of the Dragon.
HBO has confirmed that Emma D’Arcy (of Truth Seekers fame) will play Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Viserys’ daughter and eventual successor to the throne.
Matt Smith (of Doctor Who fame) will play Daemon Targaryen, both Rhaenyra’s uncle and eventual partner – because apparently we can’t escape incest in Game of Thrones.
Olivia Cooke (of Ready Player One fame) plays Alicent Hightower, the daughter of the Hand of the King. She will greatly complicate matters for the Targaryen lineage and their claims to the Iron Throne.
Variety has announced four new cast members: Steve Toussaint (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time fame), Eve Best (Nurse Jackie fame), Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill fame), and Sonoya Mizuno (Devs fame).
Toussaint plays an extremely wealthy adventurer named Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka ‘The Sea Snake’. Best plays Princess Rhaenys Velaryon, the daughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen who has a rightful claim to the throne. Ifans plays her husband, Otto Hightower, the hand of the king for Viserys Targaryen. Finally, Mizuno plays Mysaria, a dancer who later becomes the lover of Smith’s Prince Daemon Targaryen.
George RR Martin himself revealed on Twitter that Fabien Frankel will be joining the cast, best known for the BBC and Netflix drama The Serpent.
Frankel will play Ser Criston Cole, who is of Dornse descent and is the common son of the steward of the lord of Blackhaven. The character has no claim to the throne or titles, but is adept with a sword and bears much honour.
What is the plot of House of the Dragon?
As the name suggests, House of the Dragon will be located around House Targaryen, the line Daenerys comes from. It will draw on Martin’s book Fire & Blood – which contains enough material to explore different plot paths.
The setting for House of the Dragon is about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. With Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower as the main focus, we know the show will delve into Targaryen’s civil war, otherwise known as the “Dance of the Dragons.” During this time, Westeros was divided between the two figures and their own claims to power.
This is because Viserys fathered a son (Aegon), despite the promise of the throne to Rhaenyra. The Civil War itself lasts for decades and the show will chart this entire storyline, framed by the turbulent relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent.
Viserys’ brother, Daemon, often changes alliances, as he is not always loyal to his brother.
Many of the Targaryen’s ride their own dragons. During the time the show is set, they are far from extinct – so expect many more appearances from these mythical creatures than what we saw in Game of Thrones.
We also suspect that we will see appearances from other famous houses, such as the Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons and Tyrells. It’s unlikely we’ll see familiar faces from Game of Thrones, given how early the show will be set – unless the Night King somehow manages to squeeze his way in.
How can I watch House of the Dragon?
In the US, you can watch HBO and its various streaming services, such as HBO Max. As with Game of Thrones, Sky has confirmed that UK viewers will be able to access it via Sky Atlantic and Now.
If for some reason you can’t access one of these channels, here’s how to watch HBO outside of the US.
