Avid followers of the Game of Thrones series have been clamoring about the forthcoming House of the Dragon Season 2. HBO has been very transparent with plans for the imminent installment of the said prequel, starting by confirming that there would definitely be a second season way back in August 2022.
Most, if not all, fans are aware that HBO premieres the first seasons of major television series and then goes dormant for a full two years – something that is likely to happen between the first and second installment of the Game of Thrones prequel. While there are still limited pieces of information available about House of the Dragon Season 2 as of this writing, here are some of the most important details we know so far.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Release Date: Will It Be Impacted By Writer’s Strike?
George R.R. Martin, who is the brain behind the A Song of Ice and Fire book series and Game of Thrones, boldly claimed that the writer’s strike would not affect the future of House of the Dragon Season 2. While the veteran author supports the move, he is confident that it would not delay the filming of the highly-anticipated sequel.
On his Not-A-Blog website, Martin penned:
Across the ocean, the second season of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON started filming April 11 and will continue in London and Wales. The scripts for the eight s2 episodes were all finished months ago, long before the strike began, Every episode has gone through four or five drafts and numerous rounds of revisions, to address HBO notes, my notes, budget concerns, etc. There will be no further revisions. The writers have done their jobs; the rest is in the hands of the directors, cast and crew… and of course the dragons).
Hoy, a Spanish newspaper, claimed that the production for House of the Dragon Season 2 would return to the King’s Landing stand-in city of Caceres in spring 2023, with filming on the new installment reportedly starting in April. If this is really the case, then there is a possibility that the sequel will arrive sometime in 2024.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Cast: Who Are Returning For Another Run?
Emma D’Arcy is set to reprise the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen as she fights for her claim to the Iron Throne. Of course, Olivia Cooke is also expected to make a comeback as Queen Alicent, who would do everything to maintain her present status.
To help Rhaenyra, Matt Smith and Eve Best will be back as Prince Deamon and Princess Rhaenys, respectively. Fabien Cole and Rhys Ifans are also coming back as Ser Criston Cole and Otto Hightower in support of Queen Alicent and Aegon.
Other returning cast includes Matthew Needham as Larys Strong, Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen, Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen, Harry Collett as Helaena Targaryen, Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen and Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen. New faces are also expected to join the crew in House of the Dragon Season 2.
Variety reported that Gayle Rankin is joining the show as Alys Rivers, a healer and resident of Harrental, while Simon Russell Beale will portray Ser Simon Strong, the Castellan of Harrental and great-uncle to Lord Larys Strong. It also suggested that Abubakar Salim will portray Alyn of Hull, a sailor in the Velaryon fleet who served in the Stepstones campaign, and Freddie Fox will play Ser Gwayne Hightower, the son of Otto Hightower, brother to Queen Alicent and uncle to her children King Aegon, Queen Helaena and Prince Aemond.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Plot: What Will Happen Next?
The final episodes of the series’ first installment suggested that the action will expand beyond the walls of King’s Landing back to the familiar territory around Westeros. Showrunner Ryan Condal previously hinted at the House of the Dragon Season 2 featuring five new dragons, which could mean that it would follow the Fire & Blood plot leading up to the Targaryen civil war.
Actor Tom Glynn-Carney, who portrays the stepbrother of Rhaenyra, teased at the Game of Thrones Fan Convention that there is more “havoc” in House of the Dragon Season 2. He shared, as per Entertainment Weekly:
I'm looking forward to having Aegon have a lot more meat to get his teeth stuck into and to cause more havoc, really, and to throw a spanner in the works, which he does so well.
Graham McTavish, who plays Ser Harrold Westerling, also shared what may happen in the forthcoming second season. In November 2022, he stated:
I think the way that it's going, is it's leading to civil war. Civil war is that great thing that countries indulge in when they haven't got anybody else to go and fight, they seem to just like fighting amongst themselves just to keep their hand in, and this is no different. They've had peace for a long, long time, and suddenly they are quite literally destroying the kingdom from within and that's what makes it so interesting, so I would expect more of that – more division, more taking sides.
Series writer and producer Sara Hess also hinted that House of the Dragon Season 2 could be set to feature one of the bloodiest and most brutal storylines from the books. She told Variety:
We are currently writing the finale of season two. I don't think you will be disappointed.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Trailer: Where Can I Watch It?
Unfortunately, HBO has not yet released any official trailer for House of the Dragon Season 2. However, if fans are extremely fortunate, there could be a teaser towards the end of the present year. We’ll keep you posted – that’s for sure.
Stay tuned to EpicFlix for the latest news and updates about House of the Dragon Season 2!
