‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 trailer promises more classic ‘Game of Thrones’ backstabbing [Watch]

On Tuesday, HBO released the full trailer for “House of the Dragon” Season 2, which premieres June 16. 

The eight-episode second season of the “Game of Thrones” prequel finds the Targaryens in a civil war, with the Greens – supporters of Aegon II Targaryn (Tom Glynn-Carney), son of late king Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and the traditional heir – on one side, and the Blacks – partisans of Viserys’ daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Viserys’ chosen heir, and her husband/uncle Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) on the other. Both sides claim the Iron Throne, and they will kill their kin to get it. 

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The trailer previews the combination of political strategy, intense action, and interpersonal backstabbing that’s the “Game of Thrones” franchise’s signature. On the political side, there’s a small council meeting where Aegon forcefully rejects the idea of dignity in favor of revenge. On the action side, dragons are soaring through the sky and blasting fire. And on the backstabbing side, there’s Daemon not answering when Rhaenyra asks him if he accepts her as her queen and ruler. He wants to be king himself. 

The main returning cast includes Smith, Cooke, D’Arcy, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans. Additional returning cast includes Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, and Matthew Needham. 

New cast includes Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne. 

“House of the Dragon” is based on the book “Fire & Blood” by George R.R. Martin. Martin co-created the show with Ryan Condal, who serves as showrunner. Other executive producers are Sara Hess, Alan Taylor (who takes over series lead director duties from Miguel Sapochnik), Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Loni Peristere, and Vince Gerardis.

Season 1, which premiered in 2022, was nominated for nine Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, and won one for Outstanding Sci-Fi/Fantasy Costumes. 

“House of the Dragon” Season 2 premieres Sunday, June 16 on HBO and Max.

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