HBO Releases First Teaser for ‘House of the Dragon’

Game of Thrones fans have finally got a first look at the much-anticipated prequel series House of the Dragon with its first teaser trailer voiced by Matt Smith.

HBO Tuesday released the first teaser trailer for upcoming “Game of Thrones” prequel, “House of the Dragon.” The highly anticipated series takes place 200 years before the events of the original series, following the rise and reign of the Targaryen family as rulers of Westeros. 

In the short teaser Matt Smith (“The Crown”) as Prince Daemon Targaryen narrates images of Targaryens in the throne room, jousts, fights and tense moments. We also see a Targaryen king sitting on the Iron Throne, a much larger and more imposing structure in this series, more like it is described in author George R.R. Martin’s books. “Dragon” is based Martin’s book, “Fire and Blood.”

Daemon’s ominous voiceover makes this dramatic statement about the Targaryen dynasty to close out the trailer: “Dreams didn’t make us kings; dragons did.” 

The trailer doesn't offer any further details about when "Dragon" will premiere, ending simply with the year it is due, 2022.

Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in "Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon."

In addition to the trailer, HBO also announced several new cast members for "Dragon," including Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon, the younger brother to Coryls Velaryon and commander in the Velaryon navy; John Macmillan as Ser Laenor Velaryon, the son of Corlys Velaryon and  Rhaenys Targaryen; Savannah Steyn as Lady Laena Velayron, the daughter of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen; and Theo Nate as Ser Laenor Velaryon and son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen.

Previously announced cast members include Smith, Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Olivia Cooke ("The Sound of Metal") as Alicent Hightower and Rhys Ifans as her father Otto Hightower.

In a previous news release, HBO described Daemon as the "younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne. A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon. But it is said that whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air…" Rhaenyra is "the king’s first-born child, she is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man."

"Dragon" was one of several prequels that began development at HBO, but ultimately the only one that is becoming a series. Another, starring Naomi Watts, filmed a pilot but was ultimately shelved by the network.

October 06, 2021