The summer episode of television deprivation is behind us. HBO Max has chosen August 2022 to unveil its major title for the year, House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones. Based on a narrative by George R.R. Martin, the story centers on Daenerys Targaryen, the Stark siblings, and the Lannisters, carrying forward the legacy that once captivated audiences. This venture marks another attempt to replicate the triumph of the original series after a prior spin-off featuring Naomi Watts was canceled before reaching the screen.
With a brief pause before the epic tale of Targaryen power resumes, audiences will get to see dragons and dynastic politics play out anew, just as a major fantasy blockbuster like The Rings of Power arrives on screens in the following weeks. Reviewers are already sizing up what’s known about the upcoming TV event of the year through early September.
When is The Dragon House coming out?
The premiere episode of The House of the Dragon will land in the United States on August 21, while Spain will experience the release on Monday, August 22 due to time differences. HBO Max is positioning the show a few days ahead of The Rings of Power, the Tolkien adaptation arriving on Amazon Prime Video on September 2, with Spanish director J. A. Bayona at the helm for the TV adaptation.
What book is the series adapted from and what is the plot?
In The House of the Dragon, the platform again adapts a work by George R. R. Martin. Fire and Blood, the focal title, explores the history of the Targaryens, rulers of dragons, as glimpsed through Daenerys and the broader saga in Game of Thrones. Published in 2018, Fire and Blood is the first of a two-volume set examining the ancestral line that governed Westeros for nearly three centuries. The narrative unfolds about two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, recounting the rise of Aegon I Targaryen, the conqueror who forged the Iron Throne, and the generations that followed as the realm wrestled with power and succession amid a looming civil war.
Viserys Targaryen is depicted by the lords of Westeros as the successor to Old King Jaehaerys, a benevolent ruler who seeks to extend his grandfather’s legacy. Yet, even the kindest leaders face tough choices, especially when family loyalties collide with the crown’s demands. The narrative is framed by a master storyteller from the Citadel, and the civil war that marks the era is shown at the very heart of the Targaryen house, revealing what Westeros looked like when dragons ruled the skies.
Executive producer Miguel Sapochnik summarizes the central cast: two women and two men vie for influence—Viserys the king, Daemon his brother, Rhaenyra the king’s daughter, and Alicent the king’s ally who becomes queen after marrying the king. The dynamics promise a densely woven plot with shifting loyalties and power plays.
How many episodes and seasons will there be?
The first season is planned with ten episodes. HBO Max will decide on further seasons based on the audience response and viewership data, according to trade reports. The showrunners envision a narrative scope smaller than Game of Thrones, aiming for three or four installments rather than eight, aligning with Fire and Blood’s two-volume structure and a more contained epic. If the prequel proves successful, there may be expansions beyond the book’s events to explore additional chapters of the Targaryen saga.
Is George RR Martin joining the show?
George R. R. Martin is involved as a writer and executive producer alongside Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik, who also serve as showrunners. Sapochnik, renowned for directing landmark episodes like Battle of the Bastards, will return to direct several episodes. The creative team also includes Sarah Hess as executive producer and writer, with Jocelyn Diaz, Vince Gerardis, and Ron Schmidt among the producers. Directors Clare Kilner and Geeta V. Pateland, along with Greg Yaitanes as co-producer, complete the roster.
Will any characters from Game of Thrones appear?
The House of the Dragon takes place roughly two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, so it does not feature Daenerys, Jon Snow, Tyrion, or the Stark siblings as they know them.
What is distribution?
The ensemble cast includes Paddy Considine as Viserys Targaryen, chosen by Westeros’s lords to succeed Old King Jaehaerys in Harrenhal’s council. Olivia Cooke portrays Alicent Hightower, while Emma D’Arcy plays Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s eldest daughter with pure Valyrian blood and dragon-rider prowess. In key roles are Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen and other notable performers bringing vitality to the realm. The roster also features Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys, Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, and Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, a formidable aristocrat with vast influence.
Additional breakout cast members include Emily Carey and Milly Alcock as the younger versions of Alicent and Rhaenyra, respectively, with the production weaving together contemporary talent and seasoned veterans to realize a sprawling fantasy world.
How many dragons will appear in the series?
Where Daenerys’s dragons were a hallmark of the original series, this prequel promises a larger dragon presence—seventeen dragons were discussed by the showrunners, each distinct in appearance, behavior, and their bond with riders. The development team emphasized that these creatures would be varied in manner and temperament as the saga unfolds.
Did the filming go through Spain?
Filming took advantage of Spain’s diverse landscapes, with scenes shot across the peninsula to evoke a medieval atmosphere. The production also used iconic locations like Cáceres and Trujillo’s Plaza Mayor to immerse viewers in the world of Westeros.
How is the trailer?
HBO Max released the final trailer, highlighting the tense frictions within the Targaryen family and foreshadowing a civil war that tests loyalties, with dragon-filled action and intense battles taking center stage.