A prequel to the global phenomenon that was Game of Thrones (2011-2019), House of the Dragon is similarly based on the fantasy novel series by George R. R. Martin. Set around 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the HBO series follows the House of Targaryen, a then-ruling familial sect of the Seven Kingdoms, known for being powerful dragonlords.
The first season, premiering in 2022, smashed records across the board, becoming the most-watched premiere in the history of HBO, thought to be watched by 25 million American households in just one week. With such staggering popularity, the series was quickly renewed for a second season, beginning script writing and principal photography prior to the strikes shutting down production. Here’s what we know about season two so far, and when we can expect the series to hit our screens.
House of the Dragon season 2 release window
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG) strikes caused a lot of disruption in the world of television production, causing major delays in the release of new seasons of popular shows. The TV and movie industry strikes did not formally end until December 2023, when the final negotiations between SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) were confirmed, totaling seven months of industry disruption.
That being said, House of the Dragon is set to be one of the first shows to return when production is back to its regularly scheduled programming, according to a report by Variety. According to insiders at the entertainment industry outlet, the fantasy series was able to wrap up filming during the WGA strikes, as the scripts had been completed in time.
According to calculations made by Variety when the strikes were still ongoing, House of the Dragon season will likely hit screens in the summer of 2024. According to a February 2024 Hollywood Reporter interview with Warner Bros. head David Zaslav, the series is set to be released on Max in the third quarter of the year, meaning the series will likely premiere between July and September of this year.
House of the Dragon season 2 cast
According to a report by Variety last year, Gayle Rankin (GLOW) will portray Alys Rivers, known in the books as a healer and resident of Harrenhal. Simon Russell Beale (Penny Dreadful, The Death of Stalin) will play Ser Simon Strong, the Castellan of Harrenhal.
Freddie Fox (The Crown) was cast as Ser Gwayne Hightower, son of Otto Hightower and brother of Queen Alicent. Abubakar Salim (Assassins Creed Origins) will portray Alyn of Hull, described as “a sailor in the Velaryon fleet who served in the Stepstones campaign.”
Given the large-scale production that is House of the Dragon, this is just a small sample of actors that will be cast in the new season. New casting announcements will be made when the series confirms an official premiere date — although some casting announcements may be withheld prior to the episodes airing, due to potential plot spoilers.
Much of the original main cast is set to return, with the likely exception of Paddy Considine as King Viserys, who was killed off in the last season. Actors Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, who portrayed younger versions of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Queen Alicent, respectively, are also unlikely to return, as Alcock has stated that their time filming flashbacks for the series is over.