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Fire will reign

HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off ‘House of the Dragon’ starts production

Published Apr 27, 2021 12:22 pm

The new Game of Thrones spin-off series House of the Dragon is officially in production.

HBO revealed that the series set in the world of Westeros inspired by George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood novel, has started production this week and will launch on HBO Max in 2022.

The cable network unveiled the news, sharing photos of the cast during a socially distanced table read on Twitter on Monday (April 26).

"Fire will reign. The HBO original series House of the Dragon is officially in production. Coming soon to HBO Max in 2022," the show's social media account posted in a Twitter thread.

House of the Dragon is set 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones, leading up the legendary Dance of the Dragons, “a massive civil war in the Seven Kingdoms held between two rival branches of House Targaryen.”

Photos shared via the show's social media account give fans a closer look at the series cast including Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, and Sonoya Mizuno.

Check out the photos below of the cast and character descriptions for House of the Dragon, courtesy of HBO:

Paddy Considine plays King Viserys Targaryen. “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 good men do not necessarily make for great kings.”

Olivia Cooke is Alicent Hightower. “The daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, 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.”

Emma D’Arcy is Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. “The king’s first-born child, she is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man.”

Steve Toussaint has been cast as 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.”

Matt Smith is Prince Daemon Targaryen. “Younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne. A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon 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.”

Rhys Ifans portrays Otto Hightower. “The Hand of the King, Ser Otto 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.”

Eve Best plays 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 favored her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.”

Sonoya Mizuno plays Mysaria, “who came to Westeros with nothing and has been sold more times than she can recall. She 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 portrays Ser Criston Cole. "Of Dornish descent, 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 honor and his preternatural skill with a sword."

The news comes as HBO celebrates the Iron Anniversary of Game of Thrones this April 2020. Seasons 1 to 8 are currently streaming on HBO Go in Asia along with behind-the-scenes specials and interviews.

House of the Dragon will premiere on HBO and HBO Max sometime in 2022.

(Images via @HBO and @HouseoftheDragon)