House of the Dragon

The Game of Thrones author had some specific details in mind for the new HBO production.

According to Insider, Martin wanted “colorful dragons, an emphasis on bright heraldry, and the addition of King Jaehaerys Targaryen II.” It seems Martin was really jonesing for a technicolor dragon dreamcoat, and he wanted to see the beast in all shapes and sizes. The people looking up at the dragons in the sky should “know which Targaryen is flying above them based simply on the color of the dragon’s scales.” We haven’t seen much of the dragons so far, but I don’t think we’ll be getting a bright blue one anytime soon. He has apparently been more active in this production than the original Game of Thrones series—and he was particularly insistent on three details that, unfortunately, might not be included.

The history of Westeros's dragon kings, explained. house-of-the-dragon-emma-darcy social featured Image via HBO.

Following him was Aenys’s son Jaehaerys, who would become known as the Conciliator and the Old King, the greatest of the Targaryen monarchs. The rulers of the Seven Kingdoms all moved to oppose him with larger armies and ancient claims to their lands – but the Targaryens had dragons. The three dragons of Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys together roasted the combined hosts of King Loren of the Rock and King Mern of the Reach, whose line ended in fire as well. When Harren refused to yield, trusting to the walls of his massive castle Harrenhal, Aegon assaulted it with his dragon Balerion, the Black Dread, the last of the dragons born in Old Valyria. The dragon’s fire was so hot that parts of the stonework melted, and Harren and all his line burned alive. Aenys, eldest and son of Rhaenys, was a weak-willed dreamer eager to please; Maegor, son of Visenya, was violent, unstable, and unyielding. The North and the Vale escaped dragonfire by kneeling to the Targaryens, who made a gesture of assimilation when they adopted the Westerosi customs of bearing sigils (a red three-headed dragon on a black field) and words (“fire and blood”). The Riverlands, under the subjugation of King Harren the Black of the Iron Islands, saw many of its own lords go over to the Targaryen cause. House Targaryen was among the dragonlords of Old Valyria, the city on the southern peninsula of Essos that was the seat of the Valyrian Freehold. Though it had no monarch, the Freehold was an empire in all but name, ruled by a small collection of noble families. That changed with the ascendency of Aegon Targaryen and his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys. This trio found Westeros divided into its Seven Kingdoms, almost always at war with one another. The Targaryens were not the mightiest of the dragonlords. The island and its castle of the same name rested in Blackwater Bay of Westeros, where Valyrian trade had penetrated but without conquest. The prequel series, adapted from the middle chapters of George R. R. Martin’s feigned history book Fire & Blood, tells how the dynasty came to civil war over questions of succession, seeding causes for their eventual decline and downfall in Robert’s Rebellion, itself a precursor to Thrones. But that leaves half of Fire & Blood behind, including the material concerned with the origins and initial rise of House Targaryen.

Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy in 'House of the Dragon' Ollie Upton/HBO Max. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or ...

Sexuality is a key element of Rhaenyra’s story, and dismissing that her sexuality involves queerness would take nuance away from the character. D’Arcy told Entertainment Weekly back in July that Rhaenyra “[pushes] at the edges of womanhood” and is “obsessed with masculinity.” Not in a tomboyish way — Rhaenyra is very fond of looking traditionally feminine — but in the sense that, to her and within her world, maleness equates freedom. Rhaenyra wouldn’t be the first nor the last Targaryen to be queer. Now, some fans will have casually dismissed that piece of information as it has, nominally, no grand impact on the plot, but queer fans were not going to let it slide and ignore some much-needed representation, especially in fantasy. In George R.R. Martin’s bestselling book Fire & Blood, the source material for House of the Dragon, there are several references to Rhaenyra enjoying the company of women as well as men, and forming meaningful romantic bonds with both. That’s right: The George R.R. Martin character she’s based on is decidedly queer, and all that’s left to see is how the creators treated that piece of information.

Exclusive: Ryan Condal talks to SFX about how the Game of Thrones prequel looked to The Crown and Succession for inspiration.

George [RR Martin] had it right when he said in A Feast For Crows that, "When the nobles go to war, it’s the small folk who suffer." This, however, is the Dance of the Dragons. It’s a civil war that happens within a singular family, which in a way makes it much more engrossing and tragic, because you see people who are blood relatives turning against each other and going to war. The original Game of Thrones is really the War of the Roses, so it’s the Yorks and the Lancasters [played out] with the Starks and the Lannisters – two separate families that never liked each other in the first place going at it. Another HBO series deals with a family squabbling over an inheritance: Succession. Unsurprisingly, co-showrunner Ryan Condal tells SFX magazine in the new issue of the magazine, featuring Andor on the cover (opens in new tab), that calling House of the Dragon "Succession but with dragons" isn't too far from the truth. Even in medieval times, if you look at the way a soldier dressed in 1100 versus 1300, there’s a huge difference there. This is a medieval world, which means time moves more slowly than it does in our time – if you went and dialed the clock back 200 years from today, the cities we’re living in would look very, very different.

This is, after all, a TV show set in Westeros centered around who has the rightful claim to the Iron Throne, with warring houses, political machinations, epic ...

With Miguel Sapochnik, the man behind "Hardhome" and "Battle of the Bastards," serving as co-showrunner, and House of the Dragon's budget reportedly around $15-20 million per episode for season 1, then there's reason to believe it will match Game of Thrones in terms of spectacle, though there will be some differences in its battles. That puts it a long way off Game of Thrones, and although some power structure in Westeros will remain somewhat unchanged - the Starks rule the North, the Lannisters have great wealth etc - there are key differences as well. Of course, there's also House of the Dragon's Targaryen civil war, the Dance of the Dragons, which helps to provide a key difference. Starting around 200 years before Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon focuses on House Targaryen during the height of its reign. There will be connective tissue to some degree, but House of the Dragon's story and characters have plenty of differences to Game of Thrones. House of the Dragon is building upon Game of Thrones' foundations, and there will be some key similarities.

George RR Martin had three requests for 'House of the Dragon,' which has an HBO release date of August 21.

cut Jaehaerys and his wife Alysanne out of the line of succession altogether. “Everybody would really festoon themselves in their house colors and be proud of them as they marched into the tournament.” So expect some killer tourney looks in the series. When House of the Dragon premieres on HBO on August 21, it’s going to attempt to get a few things right that Game of Thrones got wrong. While Daenerys’s dragons started off with distinct colors as hatchlings — Drogon was black, Rhaegal was green, and Viserion was cream — their scales and looks got muddled together as they grew, making it hard to tell the larger dragons apart. Things get more complicated about a decade later when Viserys decides to name his own daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcott) as his heir…only for more sons to come after her. Instead of the Targaryen who is next in line due to birth order, Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best), the majority of Westerosi lords opt for her cousin Viserys (Paddy Considine), because he’s, you know, a guy.

These characters are some of a select few who will be played by multiple actors: Milly Alcock and Emily Carey will play Rhaenyra and Alicent as young women for ...

They’re at the forefront in House of the Dragon, both via Alicent and her father Otto Hightower, who serves as Hand of the King to Viserys Targaryen. Alicent and Rhaenyra’s relationship is at the forefront of that conversation.” “House of the Dragon really creates a nuanced conversation of misogyny,” Alcock said. That’s part of why they brought the characters in early, to show that love — which is what makes the demise of their relationship so much more heartbreaking.” Like Game of Thrones, HBO’s upcoming prequel series House of the Dragon has a lot of characters. In their youth, the girls are best friends, but as they get older, their interests diverge and they develop a bitter rivalry.

Much like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will feature dreamy destinations that serve as backdrops to the slow-burn politicking and gripping action ...

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The series debuts on HBO on 21 August. The show starts with King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) having to choose an heir: either his dutiful daughter, ...

Some fans complained about the finale of the original Game of Thrones series. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed. "It's a show that interrogates patriarchy, misogyny and power." Stars of House Of The Dragon say the team behind the prequel intend to satisfy Game Of Thrones fans, while setting out their own stall with an original story. The series debuts on HBO on 21 August. The show starts with King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) having to choose an heir: either his dutiful daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, or his wayward and violent brother, Prince Daemon. The new show is set two centuries before the events of the original series, that ended its hit eight-season run in May 2019.

HBO's new “Game of Thrones” prequel takes us back to the land of Westeros, hundreds of years earlier. We've got your cheat sheet.

Viserys’s closest adviser is Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), the Hand of the King — a position of great influence, as it was in “Thrones.” Hightower is a rival of the kingdoms’ richest man, the veteran seafarer Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), who is married to Rhaenys and who, like the Targaryens, is a descendant of the ancient empire of Valyria. The main players in “House of the Dragon” include the well-meaning but ineffectual King Viserys and his younger brother, the roguish Prince Daemon (Matt Smith), who would inherit the throne if his brother dies. Condal is new to the franchise, as is the entire cast. Doing so will give you access to the work of over 1,700 journalists whose mission is to cover the world and make sure you have accurate and impartial information on the most important topics of the day. Set 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, it chronicles the history of her royal family during a tumultuous time, a calamitous internecine war known as “The Dance of the Dragons.” During this conflict, a slew of Targaryens and their dragon steeds — these fire-breathing beasts were more plentiful at this point in Westerosi history — did battle for the Iron Throne. That’s the question explored by “House of the Dragon,” the new series set in author George R.R. Martin’s revisionist epic-fantasy world.

Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal who will be at the helm of the Game of Thrones prequel, have said there were three things George wanted to appear in the ...

House of the Dragon will premiere on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW on August 22 2022. He also asked that House Of The Dragon included lots of colour to symbolise each of the houses on the show. Ahead of the House Of The Dragon premiere, it’s now been revealed what author George RR Martin requested be included in the show.

With a star-studded cast featuring the likes of Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen), Emma D'Arcy (Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Lady Alicent ...

Excitement around the new House of the Dragon prequel series to Game of Thrones is mounting. There is some speculation that the series will try to tackle when Aegon Targaryen first arrived in Westeros to conquer the seven kingdoms, but this may be dealt with in a later series. It focuses on the events of a civil war which breaks out in the Targaryen household that eventually leaves it diminished.

Then, yes, bursting through the clouds over Westeros, a majestic, roaring dragon: Syrax, ridden by princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock). That's just one ...

The move that leads to the most heartache: Hand of the King Otto High-tower’s ( Rhys Ifans) manipulation of his daughter, Alicent (teen Emily Carey/adult Olivia Cooke), Rhaenyra’s best and much-needed friend. Rhaenyra breaks the rules and Alicent tries to keep her in control,” says Carey. Smith likens Daemon to his dragon, Caraxes: “cantankerous and grumpy and obtuse and a loner.” Plus, “Daemon harbors a grudge.” You don’t want to be on his bad side — see his bloody joust with lowborn knight Criston ( Fabien Frankel). Freedom to do what you please is rare in the sharp-elbowed court of the ruling Targaryens — a family with 17 dragons! “This series shows what Daenerys’ family lost,” says Ryan Condal, who cocreated Dragon with Martin and runs it with Emmy-winning Thrones director Miguel Sapochnik. “The Targaryens were revered, rich, powerful. Then, yes, bursting through the clouds over Westeros, a majestic, roaring dragon: Syrax, ridden by princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock). That’s just one thrill in the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon’s premiere.

A string of critically acclaimed roles has made him many British actors' favorite actor. It has also lifted him from hardscrabble roots to a seat on the ...

“That kid in the window, he hasn’t got to die, but it can’t keep dominating your life,” he said. ( Reviewing the Broadway production, The Times said Considine gave “a superb, anchoring performance.”) The actor now says “The Ferryman” was “a game-changer,” in terms of his comfort with his craft. As an insecure kid cowed by a chaotic home and by other parents who “shut doors in my face” because of the sins of his father, he learned to perform confidence and swagger. That comfort wasn’t always apparent on “House of the Dragon,” however. “I think ‘Tyrannosaur’ was just a love letter and an apology to my parents,” he told me. (“Part of me wants to die” when people bring it up, he said, but he has made his peace with it.) “Every once in a while, an actor or the writers will take a character in a somewhat different direction that is better,” Martin said. “We knew he had a comic presence that hadn’t been fully unleashed yet.” An acclaimed actor, he nonetheless struggles with attacks of insecurity to the point that he considered leaving projects like “Hot Fuzz” because he felt he was flailing. “What Paddy brought to it was Targaryen-ness, this fierceness,” he said. He pulled to a stop in front of a pale gray two-family house and pointed to an upstairs window. There was the gospel hall where he and his friends sang hymns when they weren’t “getting kicked out for fighting about.” The pub where men from his estate pursued nightly oblivion.

House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal has suggested that the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel is tonally similar to Succession, but with dragons.

"The fun of this show is that it plays as a bit of a companion piece to the history book," Condal revealed. But the idea is that, in the end, the events are the same. "This, however, is the Dance of the Dragons. It's a civil war that happens within a singular family, which in a way makes it much more engrossing and tragic, because you see people who are blood relatives turning against each other and going to war." Condal and co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik recently told IGN that they want their show to feel like it interacts with Fire & Blood, rather than just telling the same stories onscreen. He admitted it wouldn't be too far from the truth to say that the Game of Thrones prequel is like "Succession with dragons" because those types of shows were actually used for inspiration in the writers room. These types of family sagas have been a fundamental part of many other TV series, including Game of Thrones, but Condal points out that House of the Dragon raises the tension from its flagship series by honing in on the dynamics of a singular family.

House of the Dragon stars Emma D'Arcy & Olivia Cooke reveal the preparation that went into playing Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower.

You and I got to play our adolescent versions for a little bit and feel what that kind of erotic, fizzy energy feels like. In terms of a show that speaks to patriarchy, misogyny, and power, I think one of the questions that it asks is, "If you are a woman looking to rule, how do you convince an electorate? But I think it's a really nuanced piece of work, because life is nuanced and complicated. And as soon as I understood that, not only is he a gift of a scene partner, but it's also a privilege to know what someone needs. Screen Rant: Speaking of the patriarchy, it is to blame for the rift between you in your adulthood. Which means we're in public space a lot, which means we can show about 5% of what is going on beneath the surface. And then you actually shoot an episode and regret everything, and then a bit later on, you feel better. A lot of the cast has mentioned how present Ryan and Miguel were in this whole process. There is definitely an element of seeing yourself as a younger person, insomuch as you feel familiar and sort of recognize what's going on there, and simultaneously feel very distinct from that person. Why did that feel important to you, and how did you really work to make sure that came through before the dissolution of it all? Because we were amazed by the seamlessness and yet differences in that transition. Added to which, it's the thing that has enabled Ryan and Miguel to build a series around two women.

In Fire & Blood, multiple conflicting historical accounts about the Dance of the Dragons are being sifted through by a character named Archmaester Gyldayn, a ...

The fun of this show is that it plays as a bit of a companion piece to the history book. The fact that the book contains various records with varying levels of dubiousness is one of the funnest things about it, but it was deemed too potentially complicated for television audiences. “We’re taking more of the approach [of] playing with the history as it was written. House of the Dragon will show a more concrete version of events…and those events may differ somewhat from the book. Instead, it draws from George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, which is a “fake history” book that draws on several conflicting accounts to convey an in-world historian’s opinion of what could have occurred during the Dance. It’s a lot of fun, with each of the accounts being colored by the opinions of the person recording it. However, the idea of bringing multiple conflicting accounts to life on screen was a weird proposition.

“This was the planets aligning,” says House of the Dragon co-creator Ryan J. Condal about teaming with Game of Thrones EP and director Miguel Sapochnik on ...

Condal and Sapochnik had previously developed a number of projects together before House of the Dragon. “HBO was looking for anything but Game of Thrones,” adds Sapochnik about how the guys’ differentiated their vision of House of the Dragon. “This was the planets aligning,” says House of the Dragon co-creator Ryan J. Condal about teaming with Game of Thrones EP and director Miguel Sapochnik on the new George R.R. Martin HBO spinoff series.

So what three things did Martin request be in this new show? “Colorful dragons, an emphasis on bright heraldry, and the addition of King Jaehaerys Targaryen II.

“It’s such a time of high decadence and peace and wealth and prosperity for the realm,” Condal said. According to Insider, House of the Dragon showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik recently revealed that there were three details from his books that Martin insisted should be in the show. House of the Dragon will rectify this, with nine dragons appearing in its first season and a projected 17 set to appear in the show overall, each with their own personalities, visual design, and colors. It sounds like this stipulation has more to do with the mythology than the events of the show. House of the Dragon has an enormous advantage over Thrones in that its source material is already done. Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is based on a book by George R.R. Martin: Fire & Blood, a “fake history” books that follows an Archmaester of the Citadel as he tries to get to the bottom of several conflicting accounts about this period.