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Filming on the third season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon begins this month, and we're hearing lots about casting, some of it from official channels, some of it because cast member post pictures of characters lists without thinking through whether that's a good idea. The point is that things are moving, and that's exciting!

We have some more minor casting news courtesy of @westerosies on X/Twitter, who always do a great job of keeping tabs on the comings and goings of the Seven Kingdoms. According to them, Michelle Bonnard will return as Sylvi the brothel madam in House of the Dragon season 3.

Who is Sylvi the brothel madam, you might be asking? Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) visited her in season 2; in season 1 we learn she may have been the first person he was ever intimate with. She was around for the food riot...

There are plenty of Funko Pop figures based on HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon; a bunch of new ones went up for pre-order just the other week. But one characters has been conspicuously absent: King Aegon II Targaryen, played by Tom Glynn-Carney. Why can't people play with their favorite layabout, out-of-his-depth cripple king?

Now they can! Tom Glynn-Carney himself announced that an Aegon Targaryen figure was now available for pre-order at Funko.com:

Okay, okay, we heard you. The day has finally come... Tom Glynn-Carney "The True King," is now a Funko Pop! Aegon looks royal and ready for battle on Sunfyre...

This article contains spoilers from Fire & Blood and possible plotlines for future House of the Dragon seasons

In the sprawling, dragon-filled world of HBO Max's House of the Dragon, power struggles and family betrayals often manifest in grand, fiery displays. Yet, amid the spectacle, one of the show's most effective storytelling devices remains a subtle prop easily overlooked by casual viewers: the Small Council balls.

These seemingly insignificant marble-like orbs, which council members place before themselves when arriving for meetings, have evolved into one of the show's most brilliant narrative tools. Far from mere set decoration, these balls are a visual barometer of loyalty, respect, and the changing power dynamics that define the realm as it spirals toward civil war.

The Silent Language of Power Is a Microcosm of Court Politics

When King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) presided over his Small Council in Season 1, the ritual had a clear purpose.

Filming on the third season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon starts up later this month, and the cast is gathering for the next leg of the journey. Two actors just posted Instagram pics from a table read for season 3. There's Tom Glynn-Carney, who plays king-on-the-run Aegon II Targaryen...

Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon Targaryen) at the table read for House of the Dragon season 3 pic.twitter.com/ybycba2GYq

— Winter is Coming (@WiCnet) March 10, 2025

...and Phia Saban, who plays Aegon's wife, queen, and full-blood sister Helaena Targaryen:

Phia Saban (Helaena Targaryen) at the table read for House of the Dragon season 3 pic.twitter.com/WNaxKtcGnj

— Winter is Coming (@WiCnet) March 10, 2025

For every season of a new show, the cast and crew gather to read through the entire thing. The table read for House of the Dragon season 3 happening now lines up with what we've heard from showrunner Ryan Condal.

What Did Ryan Condal & Emma D’Arcy Say About House of the Dragon 3? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

HBO’s House of the Dragon is a stunning prequel to the acclaimed Game of Thrones series. The show follows events two centuries from the Game of Thrones timeline and tells the story of the Targaryen clan 100 years after the Targaryen conquest united the Seven Kingdoms.

It covers the events leading up to the fall of the House of the Targaryen. The prequel has aired for two seasons so far, and the third season is already in the making. Ryan Condal, the prequel’s showrunner, Sara Hess, the executive producer and writer, and cast members Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Tom Glynn-Carney, and Ewan Mitchell attended the Emmys FYC on March 6, 2025.

The panel discussed season 2 of House of the Dragon and also dished intriguing details about season 3. According to Condal,...

The stars of the House of the Dragon are hitting the black carpet!

Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, and Olivia Cooke stepped out for a For Your Consideration event for their Game of Thrones spinoff series on Thursday (March 6) held at the Saban Media Center in Los Angeles.

Fellow cast members in attendance included Fabien Frankel, Tom Glynn-Carney, Steve Toussaint, and Ewan Mitchell.

If you didn’t know, a third and fourth season of House of the Dragon have already been announced, with the show expected to conclude after that.

Back in January, it revealed that James Norton is joining the cast for the third season. Find out more about his role here.

Click through the gallery inside for 20+ pictures of the House of the Dragon cast at the event…...

We've known for a while that HBO would start filming the third season of its Game of Thrones prequel show House of the Dragon this month. Now, we have a timeline. "[The writing for season 3 is] essentially done and we start [filming] in a couple of weeks," showrunner Ryan Condal said at an FYC press event for the show, per Gold Derby. Very soon, the likes of Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and the rest will return to work.

Condal, D'Arcy, Smith, and Cooke all appeared on the panel, together with stars Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon), Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon Targaryen), Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen), and executive producer Sara Hess. "As the actors embody the characters, it actually becomes much easier to write in a more interesting way, because you get to know everybody really well," Condal continued. "For Season 3, there's much more shape and depth...

House of the Dragon roared onto the Emmys FYC scene on Thursday with a supersized panel featuring several fan-favorite stars from the HBO fantasy drama. The informative Q&a was held at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center following a screening of Episode 204, "The Red Dragon and the Gold." While the discussion mostly centered around Season 2, which is eligible at the upcoming 2025 Emmys, there were also several hints about Season 3.

The panelists were Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen), Emma D'Arcy (Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Queen Alicent Hightower), Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys Valeryon), Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), Tom Glynn-Carney (King Aegon II Targaryen), Ewan Mitchell (Prince Aemond Targaryen), Sara Hess (executive producer and writer), and Ryan Condal (co-creator and executive producer), moderated by Josh Horowitz.

The writing for Season 3 is "essentially done and we start [filming] in a couple of weeks," Condal confirmed. "As the actors embody the characters, it...

The Song of Ice and Fire universe has had plenty of heartbreaking deaths between George R. R. Martin's books, "Game of Thrones," and "House of the Dragon." It's hard for anything to top events like the beheading of Ned Stark or the Red Wedding, but the end of "House of the Dragon" Season 1 took a crack at it with the death of Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault). Luke might not have had as much screen time as some other characters in the franchise before their own tragic ends, but his status as an innocent child, the accidental nature of his death, and a fantastic performance from young star Elliot Grihault all combine to make his murder a truly devastating finale for the show's inaugural season.

As tensions between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and the Hightower faction in King's Landing rise, Rhaenyra scrambles to assemble as many allies to her banner as she can.

House of the Dragon is a fantasy drama that revolves around the downfall of the Targaryen family. Set approximately 200 years before the first season of Game of Thrones, the show gradually reveals how the Targaryens lost their power over the Seven Kingdoms. What once was a time of peace under King Viserys quickly transforms into a bitter sibling rivalry and ultimately leads to civil war.

As the show concludes its second season, greater conflicts emerge on the horizon for every character. Many of these characters contributed to the tensions that escalated into widespread bloodshed. Several characters exhibit traits of passivity, vengeance, indecisiveness, and recklessness, which render them unlikable and annoying.

Alys Rivers Is Underutilized and Boring as the Femme Fatale of Harrenhal Portrayed by: Gayle Rankin

Alys Rivers is introduced in House of the Dragon, Season 2, with little to no real explanation as to why she resides mysteriously in Harrenhal.

With production on House of the Dragon season 3 underway, the creative team is hard at work in putting the pieces in place for the highly anticipated next season of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel and, in doing so, they’ve officially cast the first major new character for the season!

As first confirmed by Variety, actor James Norton has joined the season 3 cast of House of the Dragon in the role of Ormund Hightower, a character who was previously referenced during the show’s second season but had previously never appeared on-screen. Ormund is the nephew of Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) and cousin to both Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Gwayne’s (Freddie Fox) cousin.

If his last name and family ties weren’t enough of a context clue, you can very much expect Ormund to be part of Team Green and he’s very much in opposition to Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy). In Fire & Blood,...

The epic HBO fantasy series "House of the Dragon" has exceeded fan expectations in many ways, giving those who were burned by "Game of Thrones" another chance to love and grieve the incredible characters of franchise creator George R. R. Martin's worlds. Taking place approximately 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones," "House of the Dragon" contains all of the great aspects of its television predecessor, just done much better, and that includes all kinds of complicated family drama. In fact, "House of the Dragon" pretty much triples down on the family drama (and incest) because it's centered on the "Dance of the Dragons," a war between two factions of the dragon-riding Targaryen family. On one side is Team Green, headed up by Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and her son Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), whom she crowned as king after the death of his father Viserys...

HBO series House of the Dragon has a new cast member for the upcoming third season. Happy Valley star James Norton is set to play Ormund Hightower. As Variety reported, Ormund is cousin to Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) as well as nephew of their father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). As Alicent's cousin, Ormund is also second cousin to her Targaryen sons, the fleeing King Aegon II(Tom Glynn-Carney) and his eye-patched psychopath brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). Ormund's title is Lord of Oldtown.

So that sets up the so-called "Green" side of House Targaryen. Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) leads the "Black" side of House Targaryen. The end of House of the Dragon Season 2 saw armies on both sides mustering for war and a handful of new dragon riders entering the fray.

After taking over from his dead father, Lord Hobert Hightower, Ormund's role in the Targaryen...

House of the Dragon has found its Ormund Hightower. Happy Valley star James Norton is joining the third season of the HBO series as Ormund, our sister site Variety reports.

The character was referenced in Season 2 but has not yet appeared on screen. Ormund is Otto’s nephew, Alicent and Gwayne’s cousin, and the Lord of Oldtown. “He is presently leading the Hightower host in a march on King’s Landing to support his house against Rhaenyra,” according to HBO’s official character description.

More from TVLineThe Night Agent Season 3: Everything We Know About Casting, Storyline and Release...

James Norton has been tapped to portray Ormund Hightower in Season 3 of HBO’s House of the Dragon, Deadline has learned.

Ormund, who was referenced in Season 2 but never appeared on onscreen, is then nephew of Otto (Rhys Ifans), cousin to Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Gwayne (Freddie Fox) and the Lord of Oldtown. He is presently leading the Hightower forces in a march on King’s Landing to support his house against Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy).

Variety was first to report Norton’s casting.

Based on Martin’s Fire & Blood and set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the story of House Targaryen.

In addition to Ifans, Cooke, Fox and D’Arcy, the cast also includes Matt Smith, Emma, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Matthew Needham, Sonoya Mizuno, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban and Jefferson Hall. Additional Season 2 cast includes Abubakar Salim,...

“House of the Dragon” has found its Ormund Hightower.

Variety has learned exclusively that James Norton will join the HBO show’s upcoming third season as Ormund.

The official description for the character states that he is “Otto’s (Rhys Ifans) nephew, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Gwayne’s (Freddie Fox) cousin, and the Lord of Oldtown. He is presently leading the Hightower host in a march on King’s Landing to support his house against Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy).”

The character had previously been reference during Season 2 of “House of the Dragon” but has never been seen onscreen.

Norton is perhaps best known for his roles in the British TV shows “Happy Valley” and “Grantchester,” though he has also starred in series such as “McMafia” and the 2016 miniseries adaptation of “War & Peace.” Norton also previously starred in the HBO series “The Nevers” and he received a BAFTA nomination in 2015 for his role in “Happy Valley.

We've already seen some splendid action scenes on House of the Dragon. The Battle at Rook's Rest from the show's second season may well the single best dragon-vs-dragon aerial battle ever put on screen, big or small.

But the show has more to give us. The most exciting action scene from the source material, George R.R. Martin's book Fire & Blood, occurs later in the story, when Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) confronts his nephew Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) near the crumbling castle of Harrenhal on the shore of the Gods Eye lake. I won't explain the full context, but basically, these two hop on their dragons — the battle-tested Caraxes for Daemon and the massive Vhagar for Aemond — and have a furious fight in the sky. It's probably the single most iconic scene from Fire & Blood, and you know the producers behind House of the Dragon are itching to get to it.

Game of Thrones started off as a great show and arguably became one of the best things on TV in its prime. The vast and sprawling narrative along with the intricate characters made us fall in love with George R.R. Martin’s world. Yet, in the end, it made many mistakes and left fans disappointed. But House of the Dragon, its prequel, restored people’s faith in the franchise.

Matt Smith in House of the Dragon | HBO

However, it seems like the showrunners are going to sabotage the one chance they have at rebuilding trust. The debut was promising and explored the events that led to the Targaryen Civil War, but it seems like the show is not immune to the mistakes made by its predecessors.

House of the Dragon repeats Game of Thrones’ mistake Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon | HBO

As per recent reports,...

The Game of Thrones universe boasts a myriad of formidable warriors. Howeve, only a select few are truly recognized as the greatest swordsmen and women of their era. While George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire features an extensive array of skilled fighters, the best swordsmen comprise many of the most iconic characters from the HBO adaptation that fans have come to admire.

Ranking Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon's best swordsmen involves more than just brute strength or speed; it also considers creativity, technique, and tactical skill. These talented men and women have made a lasting impact on audiences, showcasing their unique abilities and unforgettable moments throughout the series.

Updated by Arthur Goyaz on January 22, 2025: Some of Westeros' most impressive swordsmen were introduced in Game of Thrones. However, House of the Dragon offers a welcoming glimpse into a different era, ruled by the Targaryen dynasty.

Phia Saban plays Helaena Targaryen on House of the Dragon. Helaena is the daughter of Alicent Hightower and King Viserys Targaryen, who died at the end of season 1. She's the wife of the current king Aegon Targaryen, who is also her full brother. It's an intense role, made even moreso by all the scrutiny the show gets. House of the Dragon is a prequel to Game of Thrones, the most successful show in HBO's history, so Saban knows she has a lot of eyes on her.

But to hear her tell it, it's easy to forget how big a show House of the Dragon is when you're actually making it. "Subconsciously, you’re aware of it but thinking about it can’t be good for your acting, you need to be fearless," Saban told Hero Magazine. "But also, it’s very easy to not think about it because the reality of making it is like,...

Golden Globe nominee Emma D’Arcy has shared a brand-new update about the current status of House of the Dragon Season 3. In the HBO series, D’Arcy portrays the leading role of Rhaenyra Targaryen, whose rightful claim to the throne is challenged by those who don’t believe that Westeros should have a queen.

During a recent interview with Collider, D’Arcy admitted that they haven’t read the scripts for House of the Dragon Season 3. However, they’re excited about what’s in store for the next installment, as the cast and crew are expected to return to the set in "early next year." "No, I haven’t, is the truth," D’Arcy revealed. "But soon, I hope. I’m really excited to go back.” Besides D’Arcy, series regulars Matt Smith, Tom Glynn-Carney, and Fabien Frankel also confirmed in a previous interview that they also haven’t received any scripts...

A House of the Dragon actor was secretly one of the most important stars of 2024. House of the Dragon season 2's ending had a mixed reception due to the season concluding before the much-anticipated Battle of the Gullet could take place. Nevertheless, House of the Dragon season 2 still proved to be one of the best shows of 2024, with Emma D'Arcy, Matt Smith, Ewan Mitchell, and the rest of the House of the Dragon cast all delivering exceptional performances.

House of the Dragon is joined by Netflix's prematurely canceled Kaos as one of the best shows of 2024, with one actor playing an important and arguably overlooked role in both series. This same actor was also in one of 2024's best movies, A Real Pain, which focused on two cousins, played by Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, who toured Poland to better understand their late grandmother's roots and her experiences during the Holocaust.

House of the Dragon star Emma D'Arcy reveals that they have demanded one change for Rhaenyra heading into season 3. Serving as a spinoff of Game of Thrones and based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, the HBO fantasy show premiered in 2022, chronicling the onset of the Targaryen civil war as the friendship between Rhaenyra and Alicent (Olivia Cooke) disintegrates. After returning for season 2 earlier this year, House of the Dragon season 3 was confirmed to be in development, with Rhaenyra and her allies poised to take the war to the Red Keep.

During a recent interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, D'Arcy, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, addresses what they hope to see from Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon season 3. According to the actor, their request is actually a pretty straightforward one: they want a weapon. Check out D'Arcy's full comment below...

The second season of House of the Dragon wrapped up earlier this year, and most people who watched it agree that the best episode was the fourth, "The Red Dragon and the Gold," which ended with Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) and her dragon Meleys being knocked out of the sky by Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon Vhagar. After a pitched battle, Rhaenys and Meleys both ended up dead, although we were spared the sight of their burned and blackened bodies on the ground.

But we've known for a while that director Alan Taylor actually did film the dead bodies of Rhaenys and Meleys, but for whatever reason that shot was cut from the final episode. “It’s always like that,” he said in an interview shortly after the episode aired. “I think the impulse behind that choice was to make sure that we stayed focused on the key storylines.

If there’s anything fans don’t like about their favorite television shows, it’s the waiting game for the next season. House of the Dragon is reportedly coming in around the middle of 2026. For those religiously following the series, this might no longer come as a surprise as the second season premiered two years after the first installment aired in 2022.

Credits: Olivia Cooke and Emma D’Arcy in House of the Dragon / HBO

No one likes to wait, but the good thing that might come out of this situation is the possibility that the show’s writers would come up with a better script this time knowing how much backlash Season 2 endured during its run.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is Confirmed for 2026

The Coming To Max in 2025 trailer excited fans with what they could expect to see next year from the prestige television network. While Game of Thrones viewers...

If there’s anything fans anticipate in House of the Dragon all season long, it’s the dragon fight scenes. Nothing is more terrifying and nerve-wracking than seeing these giant beasts take the battle up in the sky, and Season 1 of the hit HBO franchise delivered one of the most intense dragon fight sequences.

Credits: Lucerys on Arrax facing Vhagar in House of the Dragon / HBO

The epic finale of the first season was so memorable because not only did it break our hearts with the death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon, but it also kickstarted the major event of the show: the Dance of the Dragons.

House of the Dragon Season 1’s Biggest Dragon Fight Was Inspired by Jurassic Park

The aerial fight between Lucerys Velaryon and Aemond Targaryen above Shipbreaker Bay after their visit at Storm’s End was one of the most exhilarating spectacles in House of the Dragon.

Michael Mann is still planning on adapting his novel Heat 2 into a movie. The filmmaker recently offered an update on the forthcoming sequel, revealing that he is still working on the script.

Speaking with Collider about the 25th anniversary of his film The Insider, Mann offered an update on the sequel to his 1995 crime thriller Heat, which turns 30 years old next year. "I'm finishing the screenplay, and at 2:30 this morning, it woke me up in the middle of the night. So, I'm in the middle of writing the screenplay, and I wound up driving through LA at 3 a.m., which is fantastic, there are no cars, and ended up at Canter's Delicatessen because that's the only thing open 24 hours," said the filmmaker, adding that he sat in the same booth he sat in when he worked on Starsky & Hutch and the original Heat. "Then I sat in a...

GQ is a magazine that focuses on fashion, style and culture for men. If they say that this or that guy is one of the best-dressed people alive, I'm willing to take it on faith. So congratulations to House of the Dragon star Ewan Mitchell for being named one of the best-dressed guests at GQ's Men of the Year event.

GQ also profiled Mitchell, which gave him a chance to talk about playing the vengeful, one-eyed Aemond Targaryen on House of the Dragon, but today's it's all about the fashion. Apparently he's wearing Dior, which makes really long coats with subtle verical stripes:

The mad prince of Westeros deserves a menswear royal standing for this Dior get-up at #Gqmoty.

Best-dressed: https://t.co/oZLnm5GADC pic.twitter.com/DFE861pqtL

— British GQ (@BritishGQ) November 20, 2024

Clothes!

House of the Dragon star Steve Toussaint officially joins the cast of Eyes of Wakanda...

Ewan Mitchell has broken out in the past few years thanks to role in movies like Saltburn and shows like House of the Dragon, where he plays the one-eyed dragon-riding revenge machine Aemond Targaryen. “He almost floats into scenes," Mitchell told GQ about the character. "He’s almost an idea rather than a person,” says Mitchell. “The way he looks, he screams ‘villain.’”

That he does. Mitchell went even further, comparing Aemond to famous movie monster Michael Myers, who's been hacking and slashing his way across the big screen since the 1970s. “No matter how much Jamie Lee Curtis’ [character] tries to wind through the trees to escape Michael Myers, [he always] catches up with her. The idea that this guy is your maker, and you will meet him eventually.”

And yet, it's possible to see where Aemond is coming from, at least some of the time. In the first season, we saw...

House of the Dragon features a talented ensemble cast, with several actors delivering mindblowing performances in their respective roles. Actor Ewan Mitchell plays one of the most complex characters in the show in the form of Aemond Targaryen. However, Mitchell took inspiration from a surprising actor’s most iconic performance.

Ewan Mitchell plays Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO).

During an interview, Mitchell admitted to drawing inspiration from the legendary James Gandolfini. The actor explained how he was inspired by the latter’s turn as Tony Soprano in the hit HBO drama The Sopranos. At the same time, Mitchell also highlighted a parallel between his and Gandolfini’s character. Here is how James Gandolfini inspired Ewan Mitchell’s House of the Dragon role.

House of the Dragon Ewan Mitchell Was Inspired By James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano

Actor Ewan Mitchell rose to prominence with his performance in...

House of the Dragon stars Matt Smith, Tom Glynn-Carney, and Fabien Frankel have shared an update about the upcoming third season of HBOs hit Game of Thrones spinoff. In the series, Smith portrays the role of Daemon Targaryen, while Glynn-Carney and Frankel portray his enemies Aegon II Targaryen and Criston Cole, respectively.

Smith, Glynn-Carney, and Frankel attended the recently held House of the Dragon panel at the 2024 New York Comic-Con, where they were asked about their thoughts on the next installments script. Per Variety, Smith and Glynn-Carney both admitted that they still have no clue about what will happen in Season 3, since the creative team hasnt let them read the scripts yet. "Not a jot, not a letter," Glynn-Carney said. "The longer they take, the longer we dont have to read anything for a while." Smith added, "Ive not heard hide nor hair. I dont know about you guys. Ive...

It’s clear that Lucerys Velaryon’s death pushed the Dance of the Dragons to happen, but what if Aemond Targaryen did not kill him in House of the Dragon? Fans would remember the Prince Regent’s hatred for his nephew because of that one incident in Driftmark where the latter slashed at his face, eventually blinding his left eye (the right one in the book).

Credits: Ewan Mitchell in House of the Dragon / HBO

If the events were reversed, and Aemond got the upper hand, eventually blinding Luke, what would be the judgment? Will Viserys Targaryen punish him or be lenient through and through? There are so many possible outcomes that could be explored had it happened the other way around.

What Could Have Happened If Aemond Took Lucerys’ Eye Credits: Elliot Grihault in House of the Dragon / HBO

Of course, the writers of House of the Dragon won...

We have a while to wait before we get to see new episodes of House of the Dragon, HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series, but the cast members are keeping busy in the meantime. At the moment, Emma D'Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen) is starring in a Greek myth-inspired drama called The Other Place at the National Theatre in London. D'Arcy is incredibly compelling onscreen and I can easily imagine them commanding the stage as well.

That said, the National Theater is an ocean away from where I live, so I doubt I'll be taking it in. But D'Arcy's House of the Dragon castmates live much closer. In a video on X, we can see House of the Dragon stars Harry Collett (who plays Rhaenyra's son Jace) and Ewan Mitchell (who plays her younger half-brother Aemond) showing up to watch their colleague work:

ewan mitchell and harry collett supporting emma d’arcy at...

In 2018, a horror movie starring Robert Pattinson and Mia Goth came out, and despite its critical success, the movie never really got the attention it deserved. In recent years, Pattinson and Goth have broken out as notable Hollywood stars. Although Pattinson got his start in the Twilight franchise, he has since proven his acting chops with serious roles in The Devil All The Time and The Batman. Furthermore, Goth has become a verifiable scream queen, starring in Ti West's X franchise and other popular horror flicks. Yet, this horror collaboration came before all of that.

Notably, Pattinson and Goth's movie came out in 2018. At this time, Pattinson had just starred in a stretch of small-scale indie movies, though one stand-out was 2017's Good Time. In this Safdie Brothers film, Pattinson plays a criminal who is trying to release his developmentally disabled brother from police custody. Meanwhile, Goth's career in 2018 was just starting to pick up,...

Fabien Frankel’s Ser Criston Cole isn’t the most favorite character in the show right now, but fans cannot deny that the role brought so much color and emotion to the already fascinating world of HBO’s House of the Dragon.

Credits: Fabien Frankel in House of the Dragon / HBO

Cole is one of the most interesting parts of the story – he went from pledging loyalty to Rhaenyra Targaryen to switching sides and supporting King Aegon, but for the most part, he was always with Team Green.

Fabien Frankel Will Always Be Team Green

The beginning of the Dance of the Dragons was also the time when fans started taking sides, and it is safe to assume that the majority of viewers extended their full support on Team Black. It’s easy to see why they have people’s sympathy.

Rhaenyra Targaryen was the heir to the Iron Throne...

House of the Dragon fan art imagines the looming showdown between Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). With each of them on opposite sides of the war between the Greens and the Blacks, and the many parallels between the two characters, a battle between them has been inevitable and steadily building since season 1. That tension is poised to boil over in House of the Dragon season 3 following Daemon's renewed loyalty to Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Aemond being told how he will die.

While perched on their dragons in art created by rui_goncalve_art and posted on Instagram, Daemon and Aemond finally have their long-awaited fight. Check out the art below:

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Rui Gonalves (@rui_goncalves_art)

In the second image, Daemon's dragon, Caraxes, can be seen sinking his teeth into Aemond's dragon, Vhagar. While Vhagar is the largest living dragon,...

George R.R. Martin expressed dismay over the changes made in Season 2 of House of the Dragon. The first episode alone had a massive and terrible change that will surely affect the rest of the story, but the succeeding episodes were all the more difficult to comprehend.

Credits: Matt Smith in House of the Dragon / HBO

Take, for instance, Daemon Targaryen’s arc. The character had been going through strange hallucinations for the entire season, and while it was understandable that Harrenhal got him under a spell, it became too much. He lost a lot of significant screen time that could have been used for a much better purpose.

George R.R. Martin’s Favorite Targaryen Is Getting Mediocre Treatment

For a while, George R.R. Martin’s criticisms of House of the Dragon stirred debate among fans. Like the rest of us, he was upset that many of these modifications would omit significant future scenes,...

Ahead of the premiere of House of the Dragon season 2, HBO rolled out a number of gorgeous promotional images of the characters raked by pain and anguish, appropriate since they were about to go head to head in a brutal civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. It resulted in stark posters like this one of Rhaenyra Targaryen looking ashen and pained:

Teaser Art – Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon season 2

HBO released these images under the tagline "All Must Choose." Now, fans have found that photographer James Minchin has uploaded a bunch of other images that look like they're from that same batch, and they are gorgeous. Just look at Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra:

New promotional images of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 2 pic.twitter.com/ZozjM0waS2

— westerosies (@westerosies) September 15, 2024

We encourage you to head to Minchin's website to check out the rest,...

Ever thought the camera was a secret cast member? George R.R. Martin certainly does! The connection between Succession and House of the Dragon Season 2 is as deep as a dragon’s lair. Both shows play a game of power with their cameras, making them as integral to the plot as any character. Martin’s own epic saga embraces the intense, almost voyeuristic gaze of the lens, creating a parallel between the high-stakes boardrooms of Succession and the fiery thrones of House of the Dragon.

Credits: George R.R. Martin via TIFF Originals | YouTube

It’s as if the camera itself is scheming, plotting, and maybe even dragons’ best friend. This unexpected kinship’s a testament to the storytelling prowess of both series, proving that even the lens’ got a role to play.

House of the Dragon’s Cinematic Flair: How Succession Inspired Epic Camera Work in Season 2 A still from...

Drama rocked the Seven Kingdoms the other day as Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin wrote and then quickly deleted a blog post detailing his problems with HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon, which is based on his book Fire & Blood. He focused on how cutting the characters of Maelor Targaryen from the season 2 premiere could have pernicious butterfly effects on the story down the line, but he made it clear that he had bigger problems beyond this, teasing "more toxic butterflies to come, if House Of The Dragon goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons 3 and 4."

Martin has been in the public eye for years, but he's never stirred the pot quite like this. HBO released a statement defending House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal as well as a podcast interview with Condal where he defends his adaptation decisions.

Last week, George R.R. Martin took to his “Not a Blog” to hint at some significant grievances with the recent sophomore season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, promising to go into more detail soon.

The writer has now done just that, with a lengthy post outlining why he felt one particular character omission in the season premiere could have a "butterfly effect" on later seasons of the show.

He also spoils a significant season 3 death - at least for those who haven't read the book.

In the show, King Aegon and Queen Helaena have two children (Jaehaerys and Jaehaera), but in Martin's Fire and Blood, the twins have a younger brother, 2-year-old Maelor. The infamous “Blood and Cheese” sequence in the series shows the hired thugs kill Jaehaerys in front of his mother, but the events of the book are quite different - and a lot more disturbing.

George R.R. Martin is breaking his (relative) silence about HBO’s “House of the Dragon.”

After initially responding positively to Season 2 of the series, Martin turned to his blog on September 4 to dig deeper into a major change from “Fire & Blood” and how it did and will continue to affect “House of the Dragon” moving forward.

Season 2, Episode 1 ended with the murder of the child Jaehaerys, son of Helaena (Phia Saban) and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and grandson of Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Viserys (Paddy Considine). Two unnamed assassins known as “Blood” and “Cheese” kill the boy to avenge Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) son, who died at the end of Season 1 in dragon flight with Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). The episode title, “A Son for a Son,” refers to this act.

And while the structure and result of the sequence in the same, Martin points out that in the book, there is...

Major spoilers for House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood ahead.

Ulf White is a character newly introduced in House of the Dragon season 2 and his story in the show is only just beginning. Season 2 of House of the Dragon brought in many new characters and plenty of new dragons as the "Dance of Dragons" got officially underway. "Dragon math" became a real consideration for the Greens and Blacks in season 2, with the leaders of each faction realizing that the flying beasts would decide the wars between men. Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel) saw this firsthand at the battle of Rook's Rest.

With the death of Rhaenys (Eve Best) and Meleys, and the damage done to Sunfyre, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) realizes that her dragons alone will not be able to stop Vhagar if she and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) decide to attack. So begins the Sowing, a series of violent introductions...

There are probably plenty of ups and downs when it comes to working alongside your heroes, but it has to be especially weird to perform with actors you've been watching since childhood. 

For the young stars of HBO's "House of the Dragon," including Ewan Mitchell, who plays Prince Aemond Targaryen, performing with Matt Smith, who plays Prince/King Consort (it depends on who you ask) Daemon Targaryen had to be utterly surreal. Smith portrayed the Eleventh Doctor on the internationally beloved British science-fiction series "Doctor Who" from 2010 to 2014, meaning he was likely a near-constant pop culture presence for the cast, who are primarily from the U.K. themselves. In order to not allow thoughts of the kindly, funny Doctor infiltrate his mind while acting opposite Smith, Mitchell decided to try something a little unusual. It was kind of Method acting, putting himself into his character as best he could, though...

It sounds like George R.R. Martin may have some issues with the second season of House of the Dragon.

The Game of Thrones author, who is also listed as co-creator and executive producer on House of the Dragon, took to his “Not a Blog” over the weekend to hint at some significant grievances with the recent sophomore season of HBO's Got prequel series.

Martin began by admitting that he’s had “a pretty wretched year,” before revealing that he is planning to list off his problems with the show in an upcoming blog post.

"I need to talk about some of that, and I will, I will… I was away from my computer traveling from July 15 to August 15, so a lot of things that needed saying did not get said. I am glad I took that trip, though. My stress levels beforehand were off the charts, so much so that...

A detail from House of the Dragon season 2 suggests that Aemond Targaryen has a fianc in Westeros, yet she didn't appear throughout all of season 2. Actor Ewan Mitchell plays Aemond in the House of the Dragon cast, and he's done a fantastic job throughout season 2 establishing the Prince Regent as one of the show's primary antagonists. With Aegon out of the picture for the time being, Aemond is the leader of the Greens, who are now crumbling under the pressure from Dragonstone, Driftmark, and Harrenhal, with Rhaenyra's advantage increasing.

Alliances are massively important for the Dance of the Dragons going forward, and season 2 saw the Blacks and the Greens both vying for support from the great houses of Westeros. Rhaenyra began the season essentially without an army, as most of her allies were unwilling to lend full-fledged support to the conflict. Meanwhile, the Greens have had forces guaranteed from House Lannister in the Westerlands,...

Fire and blood. Those are the words of House Targaryen, as well as the dreadful combination that they impose upon anyone who dares confront them and their dragons in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones even if it's one of their own. In the epic battle at Rook's Rest in House of the Dragon, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) is severely burned after his brother, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), rains dragonfire on him. The scene was especially surprising since most of us remember that Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) faced fire head-on many times in Game of Thrones and emerged unscathed in all of them. So which is it? Can fire actually kill a dragon?...

House of the Dragon recently wrapped premiering episodes of the second season. The season was teased as the all-out war between the Greens and the Blacks over the shocking death of Lucerys at the end of season 1. However, the season proved to be the calm before the storm where various chess pieces are being moved on both sides to prepare for what’s coming.

House of the Dragon season 2 ending felt anticlimactic for many fans | Credits: HBO

Many fans felt underwhelmed by the cliffhanger of the finale which left many arcs unresolved and the lack of any exciting action frustrated them. With season 3 expected to start shooting next year, a new report about the casting of Daeron who was referenced many times in season 2 will excite fans after following season 2’s disappointment.

Harry Gilby Reportedly Cast As Daeron Targaryen For House of The Dragon Season 3

Harry Gilby played Aethelstan in...

In the season 2 premiere of House of the Dragon, Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) suffered an enormous trauma when her young son Jaehaerys was decapitated in front of her, killed by assassins sent into the Red Keep by Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith). Helaena didn't have much to do for most of the rest of the season, but she had a part to play in the season finale, where she refused to ride her dragon Dreamfyre into battle alongside her brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) to help with his war effort.

She rejects him in pretty certain terms, using her precognitive abilities as a dreamer to foretell his own death. “You were swallowed up in the God’s Eye, and you were never seen again,” she tells him.

Helaena has been known to have prophetic dreams, but she's never articulated one with such clarity before. Speaking to Variety, actor Phia Saban tried to...

It's always great when someone claims a dragon in House of the Dragon. Those are always the most exciting moments in an episode, and it has happened a lot in Season 2. In Episode 7, "The Red Sowing," it happens twice, and the episode ends on a high note with Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon, Vhagar, chasing Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) and Silverwing from King's Landing to Dragonstone. There are two notable things in this scene. First, Ulf's excitement, practically "yeehawing" as he flies a dragon for the first time over his hometown. Second, the fact that the following chase takes a little under two minutes in the episode. This has raised some questions about dragons and how they fly. How fast are they, really? Unfortunately, to answer that, we'll have to do some math, so bear with us.