HBO wasted no time in greenlighting a second season for House of the Dragon following the impressive debut of its first episode. The show's premiere boasted the highest viewership for any new original series in HBO history, prompting an enthusiastic renewal announcement from the network.
Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming, expressed immense pride in the achievements of the House of the Dragon team during the first season. In a statement, she lauded the phenomenal cast and crew for surpassing expectations, delivering a show that has quickly become essential viewing. Orsi shared her excitement about continuing the epic saga of House Targaryen with the upcoming second season.
The acclaim for House of the Dragon was further underscored by its remarkable performance at the Emmy Awards. Season one earned eight nominations, notably securing a spot in the prestigious Best Drama Series category.
As season two unfolds, it seamlessly picks up from where the inaugural season left off, as teased in a compelling new trailer. The upcoming conflicts are encapsulated by the poignant words of Rhaenys (Eve Best): "There is no war so hateful to the Gods as a war between kin, and no war so bloody as a war between dragons."
Get ready for another thrilling chapter in the House of the Dragon saga official teaser trailer.
Season two of House of the Dragon will stay true to its roots, continuing to be based on George R. R. Martin's "Fire & Blood."
Set two centuries before Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon unfolds the Targaryen saga, depicting their descent into civil war over the throne's rightful heir after King Viserys I (played by Paddy Considine). Season two is anticipated to seamlessly resume the narrative from where season one concluded.
Season 1 set the stage for a forthcoming intense narrative," explained co-creator Ryan Condal. "We invested time in introducing the characters and their intricate histories, paving the way for a civil war. Season 2 delves into the aftermath, exploring the reactions of Rhaenyra and Alicent's families as we pick up the pieces after flipping the chessboard – that's the compelling story we unravel in the upcoming season and beyond.
In the upcoming Season two, Condal explains, will remain a story of Alicent and Rhaenyra.
In April 2023, Condal expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I'm excited to resume the narrative where we left off. We're entering the more traditional rhythms of storytelling akin to Game of Thrones. This tale, envisioned as a Shakespearean or Greek tragedy by George [R.R. Martin], revolves around a house tearing itself apart from within. Now that the pieces are set on the board, I look forward to unfolding the next chapter, exploring the aftermath of Viserys' absence and the unraveling dynamics within House Targaryen."
Key Cast Members Return....
Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Emma D'Arcy (Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen) and Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) will all reprise their roles, as are Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole), Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen), Steve Toussain (Corlys Velaryon), Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), and Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria).
We can also expect the actors who play the next generation of Targaryens—Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II Targaryen), Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen), and Phia Saban (Helena Targaryen) to return. We will also likely see the return of Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen), Phoebe Campbell (Rhanea Targaryen), and Harry Collet (Jacaerys Velaryon) too.
The younger versions of Rhaenyra and Alicent, played by Milly Alcock and Emily Carney, respectively, are not expected to return. Creator Ryan Condal doesn't completely dismiss the possibility of future appearances, stating, "I mean, look, I don't know." While the younger versions of Rhaenyra and Alicent are currently not part of the ongoing narrative, the key word here is "yet." Condal leaves the door open, hinting at potential developments down the road.
New cast members will, including:
- Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Castellan of Harrenhal and great-uncle to Lord Larys
- Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Alicent's brother
- Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, a healer and resident of Harrenhal
- Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, a Velaryon sailor
Season two will not see the return of co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik.
House of the Dragon's co-showrunner, Miguel Sapochnik, is stepping down after dedicating three years of tireless effort to the show, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. Sapochnik expressed gratitude for the honor and privilege of working in the Thrones universe, especially with the exceptional cast and crew of House of the Dragon over the past two years. Despite the difficulty in making this decision, he believes it's the right choice for him personally and professionally.
Sapochnik expressed confidence in the series' future, particularly with Alan Taylor joining, and conveyed his joy in remaining part of the HBO and House of the Dragon family. He extended best wishes for success to Ryan and his team for season two and beyond.
In January 2023, Puck reported that Sapochnik's departure was a result of a prolonged dispute concerning his wife's involvement in the show. Allegedly, Sapochnik advocated for his wife, Alexis Raben, to join the producing team, but HBO resisted, citing insufficient experience. Despite attempts at mediation, the disagreement persisted, leading to Sapochnik's exit. In response, HBO expressed a desire for his continued collaboration in a different creative capacity.
Star Olivia Cooke acknowledged Sapochnik's departure on The Wrap's UnWrapped podcast, stating, "We all love Miguel; he's a brilliant director and an incredible collaborator. He had just really radical ideas when it came to making this show." Cooke also mentioned the collective effort to fill his shoes with other talented directors, emphasizing that while Sapochnik is irreplaceable, the aim is to make the upcoming season as compelling, if not better.
Could the Starks be in season two.
While there's no official confirmation of the Starks appearing in Season Two of House of the Dragon, co-creator Ryan Condal has hinted at the potential involvement of Cregan Stark, the current Lord of Winterfell, in the series.
Condal mentioned, "We will cast Cregan Stark at some point, but no comment otherwise." This leaves the door open for the Starks to play a role in the unfolding narrative, although specific details about Season Two remain undisclosed. Keep an eye out for updates as the show's creators reveal more about the upcoming season.
A Compact Eight-Episode Journey on the Cards.
Season Two of House of the Dragon is set to be more concise, with a total of eight episodes, as opposed to the ten episodes in Season One, according to Deadline's report.
Commencing in Spring 2023, Filming Persevered Through the SAG Strike.
Filming kicked off in spring 2023 at the Warner Bros studios in Hertfordshire before shifting to Céceras, Spain. Ewan Mitchell's profile in the Face HotD sheds light on the production. Matt Smith, revealing at ComicCon Abu Dhabi in March 2023 that he just received all the scripts, noted their tardiness, a common occurrence. Despite the WGA writer's strike, House of the Dragon's production remains unaffected, as reported by Variety, thanks to the completed scripts.
In July 2023, a SAG-AFTRA strike ensued, but House of the Dragon, being a UK production, continued filming per Variety. George R.R. Martin clarified on his blog that the series is primarily shot in London, and despite Equity's support for the American union, British law prevents a sympathy strike. The actors, members of Equity, are not part of SAG-AFTRA, ensuring the show's ongoing production without legal repercussions.
Staying the Course: House of the Dragon Steadfastly Heads Towards its 2024 Premiere.
"Don’t anticipate it in '23, but I think sometime in '24," shared Casey Bloys, CEO of HBO and HBO Max, with Vulture last year. Emphasising the complexity of planning and the abundance of uncertainties, Bloys highlighted the reluctance to commit to a specific release date prematurely, learned from previous experiences. In February 2023, Bloys hinted that House of the Dragon might miss the 2024 Emmys eligibility, suggesting a premiere after May 31, 2024.
Fast forward to October 2023, Bloys confirmed a "early summer" 2024 premiere for Season Two, though no specific date has been disclosed. Stay tuned for further updates as we track the progress of House of the Dragon.
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