UPDATE [21/07/2022]: After HBO drip-fed several teaser trailers in the lead-up, today the first official trailer for House of the Dragon has been released. Providing a solid, fairly comprehensive look at the tone, characters and action from the Game of Thrones prequel series, the House of the Dragon trailer comes just days before Comic-Con and ahead of the scheduled August 21 premiere. In Australia, the new series will stream on both Binge and Foxtel Now from August 22.
Given this is our first major look at House of the Dragon, there are plenty of new reveals that werenโt at all hinted at in the teaser trailers. First, itโs clear that the budget has been well spent. Reportedly, each episode costs in excess of $15 million, so as you can see there are plenty of CGI dragons flying around the world of Westeros as the script adapt George R.R. Martinโs 2018 novel, Fire & Blood.
Second, we get into the meat of the brewing civil war that threatens to split House Targaryen as two siblings set their eyes on the Iron Throne. Speaking of which, there are plenty of references to the Iron Throne once again, making sure we know that, much like GoT, the internal and external struggle for power and its ability to corrupt and destroy will be the overarching theme.
While weโre talking about a time long before the likes of Daenerys Targaryen, itโs looking like weโll get an intimate look at House Targaryen as it crumbles under the weight of internal power struggles.
Doctor Who star Matt Smith looks like heโs sinking into the role of Prince Daemon Targaryen quite nicely, alongside his on-screen sister, young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, portrayed by Emma DโArcy. Both are clearly at war for the Iron Throne following the death of King Viserys I Targaryen.
The star-studded ensemble cast includes Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma DโArcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno, Fabien Frankel and Rhys Ifans. Working behind the scenes with Martin is co-creator and co-showrunner Ryan Condal.
As already reported, the show has confirmed a roster of new supporting characters in addition to the main cast (listed below). These include Ser Harwin โBreakbonesโ Strong (Ryan Corr), Lord Jason Lannister / Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall), Ser Harrold Westerling (Graham McTavish), Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), Grand Maester Mellos (David Horovitch), Lord Lyman Beesbury (Bill Patterson) and Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes)
With George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal behind the GoT prequel, itโs looking like Martinโs Ice and Fire series is in very good hands as the Game of Thrones universe expands ahead of several other spin-off series being planned for the next few years, including a Game of Thrones sequel that centres around Jon Snow following the events of the original show.
UPDATE [31/03/2022]: Sending out a tweet earlier this week, HBO Max has confirmed that House of the Dragon will premiere on 21st August 2022. The announcement comes after almost a year of speculation about when exactly the Game of Thrones prequel would appear in 2022. HBO stamped the news with a photo of a dragon egg, and if the fact that the entire series surrounding House Targaryen doesnโt already imply it, itโs clear weโll be seeing dragons in some kind of form.
House of the Dragonโs August 21st release date also means it will be screening around the same time as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is one of the biggest shows coming to Amazon Prime Video this year.
Original Article โ โHouse of the Dragonโ Trailer: โGame Of Thronesโ Prequel Arrives In 2022
Months after HBO provided the first look of its long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon now has a teaser trailer to get your freak juices flowing. Set 300 years before the events of the main series, the story will depict House Targaryen in their glory days, as well as the Targaryen civil war that set sibling against sibling, dragon against dragon (eventually immortalised as โThe Dance of the Dragonsโ in author George R.R. Martinโs fictional history/universe).
Co-creators George R.R. Martin & Ryan Condal (Colony, Hercules) will serve as showrunners alongside Miguel Sapochnik; the latter of whom is a franchise veteran who has most notably directed the epic season 6 episode 9 instalment of the original series, more commonly known as โBattle of the Bastards.โ Game of Thrones and Westworld composer Ramin Djawadi is also set to return.
โI think itโll be a really exciting cast, I think itโs a wonderful legacy to be a part of, and a wonderful world, and itโs a great part,โ says The Crown star Matt Smith, who portrays Prince Daemon Targaryen.
โAnd without saying too much, yeahโฆ Iโm just sort of looking forward to riding a few dragons.โ
House Of The Dragon Cast & Characters
- King Viserys Targaryen (portrayed by Paddy Considine)
โViserys was chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council in Harrenhal. A warm, kind, and decent man, Viserys only wishes to carry forward his grandfatherโs legacy, but good men do not necessarily make for great kings.โ - Alicent Hightower (portrayed by Olivia Cooke)
โThe 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.โ - Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (portrayed by Emma DโArcy)
โThe kingโs first-born child. She is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everythingโฆ but she was not born a man.โ - Prince Daemon Targaryen (portrayed by Matt Smith)
โThe 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.โ
RELATED: HBO Is Developing Another โGame Of Thronesโ Prequel Series
- Lord Corlys Velaryon AKA โThe Sea Snakeโ (portrayed by Steve Toussaint)
โThe Lord of House Velaryon, a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen, โThe Sea Snakeโ 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.โ - Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (portrayed by Eve Best)
โA dragonrider and wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon, โThe Queen Who Never Wasโ was passed over as heir to the throne at the Great Council because the realm favoured her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.โ - Otto Hightower (portrayed by Rhys Ifans)
โThe 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 kingโs brother, Daemon, and his position as heir to the throne.โ - Mysaria (portrayed by Sonoya Mizuno)
โShe came to Westeros with nothing, sold more times than she can recall, and could have wiltedโฆ but instead she rose to become the most trusted โ and most unlikely โ ally of Prince Daemon Targaryen, the heir to the throne.โ - Ser Criston Cole (portrayed by Fabien Frankel)
โOf Dornish descent, Ser Criston is the common-born son of the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven. He has no claim to land or titles; all he has to his name is his honour and his preternatural skill with a sword.โ
House of the Dragon is set to premiere on HBO and HBO Max on August 21st of 2022 (so you can probably expect it on Australiaโs equivalent Binge soon after) โ check out the first teaser trailer above, stay tuned for the feature-length House of the Dragon trailer when it inevitably drops, while youโre at it, give the cast gallery a looksee here.
โHouse Of The Dragonโ Trailer โ Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a 'Game of Thrones' prequel?
Yes. House of the Dragon is a prequel to Game of Thrones, set before the events of the original show with a close look at the inner struggles of House Targaryen and the bitter war for the Iron Throne that occurred long before there ever was a Ned Stark or Jamie Lannister.
When does 'House of the Dragon' come out?
House of the Dragon will premiere on August 21st, 2022.
How can I watch House of the Dragon from Australia?
House of the Dragon will begin streaming on Foxtel Now and Binge from August 22nd, 2022.