House of the Dragon, the prequel to the famous T.V. show Game Of Thrones has been in the limelight since the makers announced its release.
The plot of this new show, ‘House of the Dragon’, revolves around the bloody civil battle between House Targaryen, known as the Dance of the Dragons, that took place hundreds and thousands of years before Game Of Thrones began.
House of the Dragon holds its origins in Fire & Blood, the 700-page book Martin published in 2018, which portrays the tale of House Targaryen arriving from Aegon the Conqueror and his cousins in Westeros to the destructive civil war named The Dance of the Dragons.
The Fire & Blood story travels approximately seven generations of House Targaryen, a fictional period that is much more extended than the entire Game Of Thrones run.
Keep reading the article below to learn more about this Game of Thrones prequel based on a book written by George RR Martin.
House of the Dragon: Everything You Need to Know
A Brief About House of the Dragon
In 2018, the famous author George RR Martin published the first of two planned books in a series named “Fire and Blood,” which explains the past of the House of Targaryen, starting with Aegon’s war on Westeros.
In contrast to the author’s incomplete series “A Song of Ice and Fire”, these novels are not narrative tales from several leading characters’ viewpoints. Rather, “Fire and Blood” is more of a past book, where every story is written from the historians and intellectuals of the Citadel of Westeros viewpoint.
In addition, the show House of the Dragon is still in its primary stages, so the makers are yet to reveal the general breakdown structure for the show.
However, as per the reports, there will be around ten episodes, the standard number of episodes on the Game Of Thrones series, except for the previous two seasons.
Furthermore, the House of the Dragon series is set to start with the arrest of Aegon Targaryen. It may comprise a brief narrative of the war when Aegon 1 came into Westeros and his sister-wives Rhaenys and Visenya and conquered six of the seven empires under Targaryen’s reign.
Likewise, the House of the Dragon series will reveal all of the complex facts about House Targaryen.
According to some online reports, Game of Thrones fans expects to see the Dragon Balerion, the Black Dread, and the enormous Dragon in Westeros who belonged to Aegon. His sisters also possessed the dragons Meraxes and Vhagar.
Nevertheless, you might not see the familiar faces from the Game of Throne series, as the House Of The Dragon narrative is set 300 years before the Happenings of The Song Of Ice and Fire.
Hence, fans will undoubtedly see some new faces from Stark, House Lannister, and Baratheon rehearsing the part of the forerunners of the Game of characters. This Game Of Thrones prequel will be directed by Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik.
House of the Dragon: Behind the Scenes
The original book author George RR Martin co-created the House of the Dragon series with the director Colony’s Ryan Condal. Colony’s Ryan Condal will write the entire show and serve as joint showrunner with talented Game of Thrones director Miguel Sapochnik.
Miguel Sapochnik led some of the most prominent and well-known episodes of the original Game of Throne series.
His story writing constitutes “The Winds of Winter,” “Hardhome,” “The Long Night,” and “Battle of the Bastards,” which bagged him a directing Emmy Award, and he is set to direct House of the Dragon’s premier and further episodes.
Additionally, one area where the Game of Thrones prequel will live up to the actual series will be in the music division. Emmy-winning Game of Thrones songwriter and composer Ramin Djawadi will return to Westeros to create magical music for the House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon: Cast
As in all of Martin’s stories and the famous Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon boasts a large ensemble star cast. Paddy Considine was the first official member to get cast on the show.
He is playing the character of King Viserys I, the Targaryen ruler who stupidly did not expect the war of succession that would follow his demise.
In addition, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, and Emma D’Arcy play the parts of the most notable characters in the series. And, of course, the occurrences ultimately tear the Targaryen family apart. Cook, the second wife to King Viserys I, is Alicent Hightower, who conspired to have her son sit on the Iron Throne.
Smith is “Rogue Prince,” Visery and Daemon Targaryen’s younger brother. On the other hand, D’Arcy will play the part of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the future queen who was her father’s named inheritor and eventually marries Daemon.
Other significant castings of the House of the Dragon are Steve Toussaint playing the part of Lord Corlys Velaryon, a.k.a. The Sea Snake; Rhys Ifans as Hand of King Otto Hightower, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon, and Sonoya Mizuno as Maria.
Furthermore, Fabien Frankel will play the role of Ser Criston Cole of Dorne, who plays a significant part in the civil war. Below is a detailed description of the cast and characters in the House of the Dragon.
Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen
The lords of Westeros choose the character of King Viserys Targaryen to be an heir to the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Harrenhal’s Great Council.
A friendly, thoughtful, and respected man, Viserys only wishes to bring forward his grandfather’s estate. However, the plot twist is that good men do not necessarily make for distinguished rulers.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
Prince Daemon Targaryen is the younger brother to King Viserys and successor to the throne. A peerless soldier and a dragon rider, Daemon has the pure blood of the Dragon. Furthermore, it is believed that the gods hurl a coin in the air whenever a Targaryen is born.
Olivia Cooke is Alicent Hightower
The daughter of the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower, Alicent Hightower, is the most attractive woman in the Seven Kingdoms.
She was grown in the Red Keep, near the King and his innermost family members, and she owns a courtly elegance and a keen political sense.
Emma D’Arcy, as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is the King’s first-born offspring, is a dragon rider, and a pure Valyrian blood. Many people believe that Rhaenyra was born with a silver spoon, but she was not born a man.
Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
Lord Corlys Velaryon, also known as a Sea Snake, is a Valyrian bloodline as ancient as House Targaryen.
As “The Sea Snake,” the most well-known nautical risk-taker in the history of Westeros, Lord Corlys constructed his home into a strong seat that is even more affluent than the Lannisters, and that reasons the most extensive navy in the world.
Eve Best, as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen is a dragon rider and wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon, “The Queen Who Never Was” was handed over as successor to the throne at the Great Council since the realm preferred her cousin, Viserys, simply because he was a male.
Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
A Dornish descent, Ser Criston Cole, is the common-born child of the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven. Ser Criston Cole has no claim to titles or land, and all he has to his name is his integrity and preternatural aptitude with a sword.
Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
Mysaria, who arrived in Westeros with nothing, traded more times than she can remember. She could have withered, but instead, she grew to become Prince Daemon Targaryen’s most trusted and unlikely partner, the successor to the throne.
Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
The King’s right hand, Otto Hightower, loyally and faithfully serves his King and realm. However, the most significant threat to the kingdom is the King’s brother, Daemon, and his status as successor to the throne.
House of the Dragon: Trailer
The new show House of the Dragon trailer made numerous fans nostalgic as the upcoming show glimpses of the Game of Thrones series sites, such as a painted plateau that creased like a map at the Great Hall at King’s Landing and Storm’s End, among others.
So we can say that the dragons are all set to return to your screens with the much-awaited House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel, and a new trailer of this show that was released lately by HBO.
In addition, the House of the Dragon show is based on George RR Martin’s novel Fire & Blood. The prequel, which is set in a narrative of 200 years before the occurrences shown in Game of Thrones, will describe the story of House Targaryen.
Furthermore, the show features Paddy Considine, Rhys Ifans, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, and Eve Best in pivotal roles. You might also be surprised to know that each episode of the House of the Dragon will cost approximately $20 million.
In addition, Paddy Considine depicts King Viserys I Targaryen, who ruled the Iron Throne and led the Seven Kingdoms. In contrast, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) is waiting eagerly for his turn to rule.
On the other hand, their King’s sister, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), also plans to seize the Iron Throne. This vendetta ultimately led to the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Likewise, the new video has been released as a teaser even though HBO had earlier released an official House of the Dragon trailer in October.
Apart from that, The House of the Dragon series is set to premiere on August 21. It is a significant initiative for HBO for Game of Thrones fans. The historical fiction drama series made more than $1 billion from 2011 to 2019.
Thus, several other prequel projects are being created in the world of Westeros, and if the House of the Dragon becomes a massive hit, it could be a signal that Game of Thrones is being turned into a franchise.
House of the Dragon: Costumes
Especially in the latter seasons of the Game of Thrones season, costumes were crucial to developing Westeros’s female protagonist, thanks to the famous costume designer Michele Clapton.
In addition, Jany Temime, who took care of the costumes for the Harry Potter movies and several films in the James Bond franchise, is responsible for designing the prequel of the House of the Dragon.
Some More Interesting Facts
What is dead might not die, and thus, the kingdom of “Game of Thrones” will relive with its much-awaited prequel series “House of the Dragon,” which will premiere on HBO on August 21.
While the famous Game of Thrones series was released only two years back, it might feel like an eternity since viewers last traveled across Westeros. Below are some amazing facts you need to know about the highly awaited prequel series.
The House of the Dragon will be released in August 2022.
The 10-episode first season of “House of the Dragon” will premiere on August 21 with other weekly releases. While Season 2 of the Game of Thrones prequel has not been officially verified, HBO and HBO Max chief Casey Bloys hinted that they are in talks with the makers for the second season of the massively hit show.
So it might not be wrong to say that the makers and the channel partners are letting things air and see how the upcoming House of the Dragon series performs.
However, they are also preparing ahead of time to make sure they remain ahead of the launch game.
The Targaryens are center and front.
Based on the famous author George RR Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” guide book “Fire & Blood,” “House of the Dragon” comes with a narrative and story plot set 300 years before the incidents that took place in the Game of Thrones.
In addition, The House of the Dragon series will pursue the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil conflict between siblings Rhaenyra and Aegon II.
They battled for the throne after the demise of their father, Viserys I. Moreover, the Dance of the Dragons pits Westeros’ great homes — including the Starks and Lannisters — against each other and ends in the demise of House Targaryen’s most mighty dragons.
Also, soon after this civil battle, the dragons would go extinct until Daenerys Targaryen, the wife of the younger brother of King Viserys, would give birth to three dragons three hundred years later.
George R.R. Martin will be the executive producer.
Like the author’s involvement in the famous show Game of Thrones, George RR Martin would be the executive producer of the House of the Dragon alongside showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik, and Vince Gerardis.
In February 2022, George RR Martin announced that the shooting on Season 1 of “House of the Dragon” had been completed, and the team is now working on special effects, score, color timing, and all the post-production work.
There will be many dragons in the House of the Dragon.
Since the House of the Dragon series takes place during the Dance of the Dragons, fans can expect to glimpse plenty of them, including the renowned Balerion (termed the Black Dread), who was ridden by Viserys I.
Ramin Djawadi’s sound score
Ramin Djawadi, who composed the award-winning music for the famous Game of Thrones show, is all set to make the sound score for the prequel series.
The composer’s work on the Game of Thrones series is inspired by a world tour where the composer performed the theme from the series in 24 towns from 2017 to 2019.
The House of the Dragon is the only greenlit “Game of Thrones” spinoff.
While there are different Westeros-related T.V. shows in the making, House of the Dragon is the only approved Game of Thrones spinoff show to date.
Martin, who endorsed a five-year expansion contract with HBO, manages the development of different ideas, including “Tales of Dunk and Egg,” which would be based on George R.R. Martin’s novel is known as “A Knight of the Seven Kingdom.”
On the other hand, the novel “10,000 Ships” would concentrate on the mythical war queen Nymeria 1,000 years before the occurrences of “The Sea Snake” (previously termed “Nine Voyages”) and Game of Thrones, which would follow Toussaint’s part, Lord Corlys Velaryon.
“Flea Bottom” would concentrate on everyday residents born in the most impoverished section of King’s Landing, and the concept of an animated show is also being sailed around.
To Wrap Things Up
To sum up, we can say that this new saga of the House of the Dragon will explore the antecedents of Daenerys Targaryen, the well-known Mother of Dragons played by Emilia Clarke in the popular T.V. show Game of Thrones.
So it is time to go back to the time those dreadful creatures were far more commonplace. And if there’s one thing that fans learned from the Game of Thrones series, the more boisterous dragons, the better!
