House of the Dragon Season 2: Everything to Know

House of the Dragon season 2 is here!

The second installment of the Game of Thrones prequel series has arrived, so it's time to head back to Westeros because a war is brewing between dragons after a nearly two-year hiatus.

Season 2 follows Targaryen's descend into the civil war that George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood novel details, as the "Greens" sit on the Iron Throne and the "Blacks" vie for it. Showrunner Ryan Condal told Entertainment Weekly in 2022 that Westeros falls into a "very bloody feast."

Condal also said the second installment will "feel much more like a middle season" of Game of Thrones "in terms of its scope and breadth and the number of characters." Glynn-Carney told PEOPLE at the season 2 premiere that Aegon is "floundering," but has "purpose" in the episodes.

The second installment of House of Dragon also debuts a new set of opening credits, which came as a surprise to many fans when the season premiered in June 2024. The original HBO series' opening credits remained mostly consistent throughout its eight seasons.

In April 2023, HBO confirmed in a press release that production for the season was underway, and more details were shared in October during an event at Warner Bros. Discovery's New York City headquarters.

The Game of Thrones prequel series, which portrays the events leading up to the beginning of the decline of House Targaryen, first premiered in August 2022 to rave reviews, including earning the biggest HBO series premiere ever, with 9.99 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max.

Here's everything to know about House of the Dragon season 2!

Who is in the cast of House of the Dragon season 2?

Per the official press release from HBO, the season 2 cast includes Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno and Rhys Ifans.

Additional returning cast includes Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall and Matthew Needham.

When did House of the Dragon season 2 film?

In April 2023, HBO confirmed that production has commenced on the second season at Leavesden Studios in the United Kingdom. Production reportedly wrapped filming that September.

Who is directing House of the Dragon season 2?

Through the Warner Bros. Discovery Access Directors Shadows program, which allows directors the chance to shadow up to two episodes of a WBD show as well as direct one episode, HBO announced in a press release that emerging directors, B Welby and Ebele Tate, will each direct an episode in the new season.

Additionally, co-creators George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal will serve as executive producers alongside Sara Hess, Alan Taylor, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Loni Peristere and Vince Gerardis. Condal will also serve as the showrunner.

How many episodes will House of the Dragon season 2 have?

Per Deadline, the new season will be slightly shorter than season 1 with eight episodes.

When will House of the Dragon season 2 be released?

Season 2 of House of the Dragon premieres June 16, 2024 on HBO and Max.

Will there be a House of the Dragon season 3?

Ahead of the season 2 premiere, HBO confirmed House of the Dragon was renewed for a season 3.

In March 2023, the network hinted at the series' extension though it hadn't yet been officially greenlit at the time. Deadline reported that a third season has already been "mapped out" as the show's creative team envisions the show running for up to four seasons.