As George R.R. Martin's fantasy franchise lay dormant long. After experimenting with a number of different spinoff concepts (some of which got as far as filming a pilot), House of the Dragon was chosen as the first Westeros expansion pack on TV.
Plenty in House of the Dragon's trailers and marketing will feel familiar to Game of Thrones fans - the Iron Throne, King's Landing, blonde folk riding dragons, etc. Yet more will feel distinctly unfamiliar - the characters, the dynamics, the political landscape. Those who've read George R.R. Martin's source material will be at an advantage, certainly, but watching all eight seasons of Game of Thrones doesn't necessarily prepare viewers for House of the Dragon, which is designed to accommodate complete newcomers as well as those who've long worshiped the old gods and the new.
From possible storylines and lead characters to which names are pulling strings behind the scenes. From timeline placement to the possibility of familiar faces returning. We attempt to answer all the most common House of the Dragon questions as the premiere's considerable shadow swoops overhead.
Is House Of The Dragon Based On A Book?
Yes and no. House of the Dragon draws most heavily from George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, which released in 2018 as the first volume in a planned two-part exploration of House Targaryen's history (volume 2 isn't yet published). Unlike Game of Thrones, however, Fire & Blood is less a traditional novel and more a fantasy history textbook, which gives House of the Dragon more narrative leeway than its parent series. House of the Dragon will, of course, still be rooted to GRRM's A Song of Ice & Fire novel series, even if not adapting them directly.
How Long Before Game Of Thrones Is House Of The Dragon Set?
House of the Dragon is a prequel to Game of Thrones, and takes place around 200 years before Robert Baratheon's death triggers the War of the Five Kings. In George R.R. Martin's fantasy timeline, Game of Thrones begins in year 298 AC. House of the Dragon's main narrative picks up somewhere around 103 AC (and could stretch further back via flashbacks). Whereas Game of Thrones only spanned seven in-universe years, however, House of the Dragon will cover decades, building toward the Dance of the Dragons in 129 AC.
How Are House Of The Dragon's Targaryens Connected To Daenerys?
By the time Game of Thrones reaches full-swing, Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen is flying her house's flag solo. The main Targaryens in House of the Dragon are her distant ancestors, eight generations removed. Incest complicates matters, but Paddy Considine King Viserys I Targaryen can be considered a great-great-great... grandfather to Daenerys, so his brother, Matt Smith's Daemon, would be like a great-great-great... uncle. Viserys' daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, would be a great-great-great... grandmother to Daenerys one generation fewer than her dad, but here's where the inbreeding comes in. Daenerys' line is descended from Rhaenyra and Daemon, since niece and uncle marry. So they're both Daenerys' distant grandmother and grandfather, and her distant aunt and uncle. Targaryens, eh?
Are David Benioff & D.B. Weiss Involved In House Of The Dragon?
No, they are not. David Benioff & D.B. Weiss served as showrunners on Game of Thrones for all eight seasons, but suffered a rapid fall from grace after running out of source material and delivering a contentious final season. House of the Dragon's showrunners are Ryan J. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik (the latter also worked as a director on Game of Thrones). Although their influence will inevitably be felt by virtue of sharing a fictional universe (an accolade they may receive an "executive producer" credit for), Benioff and Weiss have no direct involvement in House of the Dragon.
Is George R.R. Martin Involved In House Of The Dragon?
Yes, he is. George R.R. Martin enjoyed a strong influence over Game of Thrones' early seasons, but gradually became less involved as HBO's adaptation grew into its own beast. By GRRM's own ission, he was out of the loop by the time Games of Thrones ended. House of the Dragon rectifies that, and Martin is credited as a co-creator as well as an executive producer. Indeed, it was George R.R. Martin who first developed the idea alongside Game of Thrones' Bryan Cogman. The author's regular updates and hype-building reveal that GRRM has been involved throughout House of the Dragon's development.
Is House Of The Dragon About Aegon The Conqueror? What About The Mad King?
When Game of Thrones fans think about famous historical Targaryens, they'll likely have either Aegon the Conqueror or the infamous Mad King in mind. House of the Dragon isn't about either. Aegon the Conqueror was the Targaryen who first came to Westeros and spewed fiery terror, establishing what would later become known as the Seven Kingdoms. Aegon also established the Westerosi calendar (AC literally means "after conquest"), so by the time House of the Dragon begins circa 103 AC, Aegon's empire is over a century old. King Viserys I Targaryen is the fifth ruler in this line, with Aegon dying in 37 AC, long before the spinoff's premiere.
Aerys II Targaryen - known to his friends as the Mad King - was ruler during Robert Baratheon's rebellion, which leads directly into Game of Thrones. As such, his birth, reign and death all fall much later than House of the Dragon's timeline would allow, with around 150 years separation. While House of the Dragon viewers shouldn't expect the Mad King to make a cameo, Aegon the Conqueror could potentially feature in flashbacks. If not, his feats will certainly be fresher in the minds of House of the Dragon's fictional population than during Game of Thrones.
Are The Starks & Lannisters In House Of The Dragon?
Many of the most famous Game of Thrones families will appear in House of the Dragon. These include House Stark, House Lannister and House Baratheon, while George R.R. Martin's source material would also allow for the Greyjoys, Tarlys, Arryns, and more. Make no mistake, however, House of the Dragon is very much a Targaryen tale. The Starks and Lannisters take a definitive backseat to the action here, loyally obeying their dragon-riding rulers rather than plotting to overthrow them.
House Lannister will be represented by the identical twins Ser Tyland and Lord Jason (both played by Jefferson Hall), while Lord Rickard Stark is mentioned in House of the Dragon trailer footage.
Are There Any New Houses In House Of The Dragon
House of the Dragon features two major houses that were either absent in Game of Thrones or might as well have been. House Hightower proves extremely influential in the spinoff, with Ser Otto acting as Hand of the King, and his daughter playing a major role in triggering the Dance of the Dragons. House Hightower still exists in Game of Thrones, eventually becoming loyal to the Lannisters, but are significantly less prominent. House of the Dragon also elevates House Velaryon to center stage. Barely-seen ers of Stannis Baratheon in Game of Thrones, House Velaryon is a major player in its own right during House of the Dragon, and is tied by marriage to the Iron Throne.
Who Are House Of The Dragon's Main Characters?
Paddy Considine sits on House of the Dragon's Iron Throne as King Viserys I Targaryen. His daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, will be portrayed by Emma D'Arcy and Milly Alcock (young Rhaenyra). Viserys' younger brother, Prince Daemon, while Olivia Cooke rounds out House of the Dragon's central quartet as Lady Alicent Hightower - the Hand of the King's charming daughter, and a constant presence in the Targaryen royal court. Emily Carey takes over as Alicent's younger self.
Lady Alicent's father, Ser Otto Hightower, is played by Rhys Ifans, familiar to The Amazing Spider-Man fans for his villainous turn as Lizard. Ser Otto serves as Hand of the King to both Viserys and his predecessor, King Jaehaerys. Watching over King Viserys from his position in the Kingsguard is Fabien Frankel's formidable Ser Criston Cole. From King's Landing onto the high seas, Steve Toussaint appears as Lord Corlys "Sea Snake" Velaryon, and he's married to King Viserys' cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen - a once-contender to the Iron Throne who was ed over in favor of a male heir.
What Is House Of The Dragon's Story?
Whereas Game of Thrones was all about the War of the Five Kings, House of the Dragon centers around the civil war of House Targaryen, leading toward the all-out-conflict dubbed the Dance of the Dragons. When House of the Dragon begins, King Viserys I Targaryen sits upon the Iron Throne as unchallenged ruler of Westeros, but a violent dispute erupts over who gets the honor of succeeding him. As the King's firstborn child, Princess Rhaenyra makes her claim, but forces conspiring against her want to put Prince Aegon in the big metal chair instead. House of the Dragon will begin by exploring the circumstances of Prince Aegon's birth, and Rhaenyra's desire to be her father's successor.
