Demonstrating the formidable strength of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” empire, the network has renewed “House of the Dragon” for Season 3, in advance of its Season 2 premiere on June 16.
The “Game of Thrones” spinoff series — co-created by Ryan Condal and “Thrones” author George R.R. Martin — has proven to be a fire-breathing hit for the network. The show enjoyed the biggest premiere audience ever for an original series for both HBO and HBO Max (now Max), and the first season averaged 29 million viewers an episode over linear and streaming. It was renewed for Season 2 just one week following its series premiere.
Based on author Martin’s “Game of Thrones” book “Fire & Blood,” “House of the Dragon” follows the Targaryen dynasty in the fictional continent of Westeros. It takes place nearly 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones” and about 100 years after the Targaryens united the Seven Kingdoms.
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“George, Ryan, and the rest of our incredible executive producers, cast, and crew, have reached new heights with the phenomenal second season,” said HBO’s programming and drama series chief Francesca Orsi in a statement. “We are in awe of the dragon-sized effort the entire team has put into the creation of a spectacular season two, with a scope and scale that is only rivaled by its heart. We could not be more thrilled to continue the story of House Targaryen and watch this team burn bright again for season three.”
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The returning cast for “House of the Dragon” Season 2 includes Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Rhys Ifans, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall and Matthew Needham.
Previously announced Season 2 newcomers are Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.
Along with Condal, who served as the showrunner for Season 2, and Martin, the show is executive produced by Sara Hess, Alan Taylor, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Loni Peristere and Vince Gerardis.
“House of the Dragon” has been nominated for nine Emmys, including outstanding drama series, and two Golden Globes, winning the Globe for best drama TV series for its first season.
HBO is currently working on its second “Game of Thrones” prequel series, “Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” based on characters Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, featured in the “Tales of Dunk and Egg” books written by Martin. The author also announced this week that a new pilot for the “Thrones” spinoff series “Ten Thousand Ships” is being written by Pulitzer prizewinning playwright Eboni Booth, though HBO declined to comment on whether the project was in active development.
