Three years after the end of “Game of Thrones” (GoT), the most-watched television show in history, its long-awaited prequel, “House of the Dragon,” will premiere on HBO in 2022 with 10 episodes.
“House of the Dragon” — which is set 200 years prior to GoT — was announced in October 2019, replacing a previous prequel for the show that was set thousands of years in the past. HBO reportedly spent over $30 million on the pilot but scrapped the show after HBO executives decided the show “just didn’t work.”
Production for “House of the Dragon” began in April 2021 at locations in Northern Ireland, England, Spain and Morocco, though filming was temporarily paused in July due to a positive COVID-19 case.
The show — starring Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy and Emily Carey — derives its plot from “A Song of Ice and Fire” series’s prequel book, “Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones,” written by GoT creator George R.R. Martin. Additionally, Martin will also play a role in producing and directing the show.
The plot of GoT centers on the death of King Aerys II Targaryen, the former King of the world of Westeros. The Targaryens were the dominant family in Westeros due to their control over large dragons. Throughout the show, powerful families fight against and beside each other to claim the Iron Throne, thus prompting the show’s title.
“House of the Dragon” will illustrate the world of Westeros before the events of GoT. “House of the Dragon” tells the story of House Targaryen, going in-depth with the ultimate downfall of Aerys, the last Targaryen to control the Iron Throne (the ultimate symbol of power in Westeros).
Though highly anticipated by critics and fans, the show’s cast features almost no recurring characters from the GoT cast, and many of us would much rather see a sequel or rewrite to GoT to mend the ruined plot development after the unsatisfying ending replacement for Season 8.
Indeed, none of the main characters from GoT will be appearing in the series, which many fans, myself included, would have looked forward to.
“I’m cautiously excited for the prequel,” said senior Dana Steinke, who watched the show this past summer. “I haven’t seen movies or shows featuring the new actors for this show before but I’m excited to see new depictions of the Targaryen family.”
