“House of the Dragon” Is Coming to HBO on August 21
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It’s been three years since the explosive Game of Thrones finale aired and sputtered the phenomenon to somewhat of a halt. Many fans found it deeply underwhelming after seven seasons of world-building, dragons, and wars that cemented the series as one of the most prestigious shows of the 2010s. Viewers thought it’d be their last time seeing the Targaryens, but it turns out that there’s more left in store for Game of Thrones fans.
The plot for House of the Dragon, which is set for an August 21 release, won’t focus on the iconic Khaleesi herself, Daenerys Targaryen, but rather her family’s history. Daenerys quickly became an audience favorite as she grew into her political power on her journey to claim the Iron Throne. It’ll be interesting to see how her ancestors go about doing the same in House of the Dragon.
According to Variety, each episode will come out to just under $20 million, which isn't much more than Game of Thrones cost to produce by the end of its run at $15 million each. A production insider reportedly said HBO has gotten much better at efficient world-building since Game of Thrones. Based on Westworld, True Blood, and His Dark Materials, HBO has an above-average track record when it comes to fantasy television. In other words, the stakes are high!
Here’s everything you need to know about the Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, ahead of its August 21 release.
House of the Dragon arrives on August 21, 2022.
Season one consists of 10 episodes that will likely be released on a weekly schedule similar to previous HBO titles.
House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones.
The highly anticipated HBO series tells the story of House Targaryen at the height of their power. Its storyline won’t begin as early as Aegon the Conqueror, who created the Iron Throne, but it will show Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors descend into a brutal civil war that tears the family apart.
The House of the Dragon cast includes Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith
The prequel stars Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and King Viserys’s first-born daughter. Doctor Who's Matt Smith is set to play Prince Daemon Targaryen, King Viserys’s younger brother and heir to the throne, who “possesses the true blood of the dragon.” Rhys Ifans steps into the role of Otto Hightower, Hand of the King. Paddy Considine (The Third Day, The Outsider) will play King Viserys Targaryen, who is described as a “warm, kind, and decent man” (though we all know the likelihood of those sort of men's success in Westeros).
As for the remaining House of the Dragon cast, Steve Toussaint will play Lord Corlys Velaryon, “The Sea Snake,” or the lord of House Velaryon. Sonoya Mizuno will play Mysaria, an unlikely ally to Prince Daemon. Olivia Cooke will play Alicent Hightower, “the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms.” Eve Best will play Lord Corlys Velaryon’s wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, or “the Queen Who Never Was.”
Is House of the Dragon based on a book series?
Soon after the show was announced in 2019, George R.R. Martin suggested through a blog post that fans prepare for the series by reading Fire & Blood, Dangerous Women, and Rogues.
First up, Fire & Blood is a duology described as the “definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros.” It dives into the rich history of the House Targaryen and the generations that fought to hold onto the Iron Throne. It also details the complete history of the Dance of the Dragons, the war of succession between Aegon II and Rhaenyra that ultimately tore the Targaryens apart.
Meanwhile, Dangerous Women is a short-story anthology featuring many famed writers, including Martin. His short story “The Princess and the Queen” offers an abridged version of the Dance of the Dragons. Rogues, on the other hand, is another short-story collection that includes a novela from Martin himself, “The Rogue Prince,” that tells the story of Prince Daemon Targaryen, who will also be seen in the upcoming HBO adaptation.
In the same blog post, Martin said he worked closely with House of the Dragon co-creator Ryan Condal to develop the series for television. He also boldly promised not to write for the show until he finishes writing Winds of Winter, the highly anticipated sixth novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series that inspired Game of Thrones in the first place.
Watch the trailer for House of the Dragon.
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