After the phrase pitch meant Game of Thrones, HBO Max has spent years searching for a successor capable of matching the saga that captivated audiences. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin became the target, and HBO Max leaned into another adaptation by the same author to try to reproduce that level of success.
On August 21, or 22 in Spain, the platform released Dragon House, a prequel that revisits the story through the eyes of Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, the Lannister brothers, and the Stark family. This effort is not HBO Maxs first attempt to recapture the magic of its predecessor. There was another pilot season featuring Naomi Watts that was canceled after filming, and the idea of a Jon Snow sequel continues to circulate as the franchise evolves.
La Casa del Dragon, known in English as The House of the Dragon, again adapts a book by George R. R. Martin. It centers on Fire and Blood, a title that highlights the Targaryen dynasty, dragon riders who once defined the realm and impressed audiences with Daenerys from the original series.
Two volumes
Published in 2018, the first of two volumes delves into this influential house of lineages. Valyria ruled the Seven Kingdoms for centuries, and the tale is set roughly two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones. It follows the Targaryen line from Aegon the Conqueror, who won the throne, through the generations that fought to keep power until a civil war tested everything.
Viserys Targaryen is chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed Old King Jaehaerys and to lead from Harrenhal, a seat in a council that defines the realm. A warm, kind man at heart, Viserys wants to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy, yet being good does not always guarantee wise rulership, and family loyalties complicate the throne’s demands.
The narrative, told by a learned storyteller from the Citadel, follows the dragon dance that shapes the realm as Westeros endures a civil war where dragons once ruled the skies and dynastic plans collide with hard political reality.
Casting
Matt Smith, known for his role in Crown, stars as Prince Daemon Targaryen, the bold warrior and dragon rider who remains a formidable rival to his brother and the throne. The cast also features Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, daughter of Otto Hightower and a striking figure amid court intrigue, and Emma DArcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s eldest child and a dragon rider marked by bloodline and ambition.
Steve Toussaint portrays Lord Corlys Velaryon, a.k.a. the Sea Snake, whose navy stands among the mightiest in the world. He rules House Velaryon, a lineage as ancient as the dragonlords themselves.
Eve Best appears as Queen Rhaenys Velaryon, a dragon rider and the wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon. Her faction is often pivotal in the councils that determine succession, making her a key voice in the power play that shapes the realm.
Fabien Frankel plays Ser Criston Cole, a Dornish-born knight who serves as a trusted advisor in the court and whose actions ripple through the royal family.
Sonoya Mizuno is Mysaria, a figure who arrives in Westeros with little and rises through shrewd alliances and tough choices. Her alliance with Daemon Targaryen becomes a significant thread in the political tapestry of the time.
Rhys Ifans appears as Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King. His warnings about threats to the throne frame much of the story, with Daemon repeatedly challenging the king’s plans.