WarnerMedia has released the first teaser trailer for the ‘Game Of Thrones’ prequel series ‘House Of The Dragon‘, which is due to arrive in 2022 on Sky Atlantic & NOW in the UK, HBO/HBO Max in the USA, and HBO Max in other territories.
Based on George R.R. Martin’s ‘Fire & Blood’, the series is set 200 years (we’ll come back to that…) before the events of ‘Game of Thrones’ and tells the story of House Targaryen. The drama chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen and the events leading up to the Targaryen civil war, known as the “Dance of the Dragons”.
The trailer includes Matt Smith (‘Doctor Who’, ‘The Crown’) and Emma D’Arcy (‘Truth Seekers’, ‘Hanna’) as Prince Daemon Targaryen and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. The younger brother of King Viserys and heir to the throne, Daemon is a peerless warrior and a dragonrider who possesses the true blood of the dragon. But it is said that whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air… Meanwhile, Rhaenyra is the king’s first-born child. She is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is also a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man.
On a side note, the tv show seems to be set 200yrs before GoT, whereas the books begin 300yrs before the events portrayed in the main show. This presumably means the series is based on the latter part of the novel, not the entire thing.
The drama also includes:
Paddy Considine (The Third Day’, ‘The Outsider’) as King Viserys Targaryen. Viserys was chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council at Harrenhal. A warm, kind, and decent man, Viserys only wishes to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy, but as we’ve learned from Game of Thrones, good men do not necessarily make for great kings.
Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘Notting Hill’) as Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, who loyally and faithfully serves both his king and his realm. As the Hand sees it, the greatest threat to the realm is the king’s brother, Daemon, and his position as heir to the throne.
Olivia Cooke (‘Bates Motel’, ‘Ready Player One’) as Alicent Hightower. Alicent is the daughter of Otto and the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace and a keen political acumen.
Steve Toussaint (‘It’s a Sin’, Line of Duty’) as Lord Corlys Velaryon aka “The Sea Snake.” The lord of House Velaryon, a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen, “The Sea Snake,” is the most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros. He built his house into a powerful seat that is even richer than the Lannisters and that claims the largest navy in the world.
Eve Best (‘Lucky Man’, ‘Nurse Jackie’) as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon. A dragonrider and wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon, “The Queen Who Never Was” was passed over as heir to the throne at the Great Council because the realm favoured her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.
Sonoya Mizuno (‘Devs’, ‘Maniac’) as Mysaria. She came to Westeros with nothing, sold more times than she can recall, and could have wilted… but instead, she rose to become the most trusted – and most unlikely – ally of Prince Daemon Targaryen, the heir to the throne.
Fabien Frankel (‘Last Christmas’, ‘The Serpent’) as Ser Criston Cole. Of Dornish descent, he is the common-born son of the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven. Cole has no claim to land or titles; all he has to his name is his honour and his preternatural skill with a sword.
In addition to those, HBO has announced a number of new cast members today. Wil Johnson (‘Outlander’) as Ser Vaemond Velaryon – Younger brother to Coryls Velaryon and commander in the Velaryon navy; John Macmillan (‘Back’, ‘Famalam’) as Ser Laenor Velaryon – Son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen; Savannah Steyn (‘Intergalactic’) as Lady Laena Velayron – Daughter of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen; And Theo Nate (‘Time’) as Ser Laenor Velaryon – Son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen.
The new series is co-created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal (‘Colony’, ‘Hercules’), with Miguel Sapochnik and Condal as co-showrunners. Sapochnik’s directing credits include six ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes, including Emmy and DGA honours for “Battle of the Bastards.” He was nominated for another Emmy in 2019 for directing “The Long Night” and won the Emmy for Best Drama Series as an executive producer for the final season.
Additional directors for the show include Clare Kilner (‘The Alienist: Angel of Darkness’, ‘The Wedding Date’) and Geeta V. Patel (‘Meet the Patels’, ‘The Witcher’). Greg Yaitanes (‘Banshee’, ‘House’) is director and co-executive producer. Sapochnik, Condal and Martin also exec produce, alongside Vince Gerardis, Sara Lee Hess and Ron Schmidt. Brilliant ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Westworld’ composer Ramin Djawadi will return to score the series.
‘House Of The Dragon‘ is set to premiere in 2022 on HBO & HBO Max in the USA, and on Sky Atlantic & the NOW streaming service in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add it via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when they get a UK premiere date.
