Against all odds, and by all odds I mean some of the other Game of Thrones spinoffs being binned, House of the Dragon has kicked off production. Who would’ve thunk it? The original series is a prequel to GoT and is slated for release in 2022.

Based on George R.R. Martin‘s book Fire & Blood, the series will tell the story of House Targaryen and take place 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones.

Martin and Ryan Condal (Colony, Hercules) co-created the series and Miguel Sapochnik and Condal are your showrunners.

Sapochnik is no stranger to the Game of Thrones universe, having directed six episodes in the past. He also won an Emmy for the Battle of the Bastards episode and an Emmy nomination for the very dark episode, The Long Night.

As for directors, Clare Kilner (The Alienist: Angel of Darkness), Geeta V. Patel (The Witcher), and Greg Yaitanes (House) have been tapped to helm the series.

Sounds promising!

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And now, to the cast of House of the Dragon. 

Paddy Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes) has been cast as King Viserys Targaryen. This bloke always plays questionable characters in films, I swear.

Look at him!

“Viserys was chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council at Harrenhal,” his character bio reads.

Viserys is described as a “warm, kind, and decent man”, who just wants to continue his grandfather’s legacy.

Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel) will play Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King.

Alicent was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle and is described as having a “courtly grace and a keen political acumen.”

Emma D’Arcy (Truth Seekers) will step into the role of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s first-born child. She is of pure Valyrian blood and she’s a dragonrider.

“Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man,” her bio reads.

Next up is the wonderful Matt Smith (Doctor Who, The Crown), who has been cast as Prince Daemon Targaryen, King Viserys’ younger brother and heir to the throne.

Daemon is described as a “peerless warrior and dragonrider who possesses the true blood of the dragon.”

Steve Toussaint (Prince of Persia) has been cast as Lord Corlys Velaryon, otherwise known as “The Sea Snake”.

The Sea Snake is the most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros. He is also very, very rich and powerful.

And Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill) is Otto Hightower, the loyal and faithful Hand of the King.

If you ask Otto, “the greatest threat to the realm is the king’s brother, Daemon, and his position as heir to the throne.”

Here we go.

But wait, there’s more.

Eve Best (Nurse Jackie) has signed on to star as dragonrider Princess Rhaenys Velaryon, alongside Sonoya Mizuno (Crazy Rich Asians) as Mysaria, and Fabien Frankel (The Serpent) as Ser Criston Cole.

What now? We wait and hope that House of the Dragon is good. For what it’s worth, I think it will be. The book has already been written, so they know what they’re doing… unlike, well, season 8.

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Image: HBO Max