The series grapples with the thorny issue of succession to, you’ve guessed it, the Iron Throne. 

The dragons are coming! With House of the Dragon set to make a big impact at the San Diego Comic Con, HBO have dropped a full length trailer for their Game of Thrones prequel series.

Set nearly two centuries before Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon, House of the Dragon promises a Targaryen civil war. Based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, the story grapples with the thorny issue of succession to the Iron Throne of Westeros when King Viserys Targaryen breaks with tradition and names his daughter as heir, rather than his brother.

“War is afoot.”

With a familiar GoT feel, it looks like we’re in for lots of scheming and conspiracy. Plus, of course plenty of blood and battle, and naturally, a lot of dragon-based action!

Matt Smith – the perfect Prince Daemon?

In the forthcoming Den of Geek magazine, co-showrunner Ryan Condal suggests that Matt Smith was the perfect choice for the role of Prince Daemon Targaryen. Interestingly, it’s because of his role as Prince Phillip in the first two seasons of The Crown:

“Matt is really the only person we talked about. We would say, ‘Like a Matt Smith or a Matt Smith type’ when talking about Daemon. I just absolutely loved his work on The Crown as Prince Philip, who somewhat ironically is a similar character. He’s the second fiddle, in that case to the Queen of England, his own wife, and is a bit adrift. [Daemon] is similarly a bit of a rogue prince trying to find his footing and place in the world.”

The character is described as one who fights pirates for fun, yet acts like one himself.

Condal continues:

“Matt was an incredibly accomplished actor who had played this really wide range of roles and was always doing different and interesting things. We loved the way he looked and we loved imagining him in that platinum blond Targaryen wig, sitting on a dragon. When we met with him, we just really hit it off creatively, and he brought a lot of interesting layers of pathos and psychology to the character that I think makes Daemon one of the most fully realized characters in George’s Westerosi universe.” 

It’s a wig? How disappointing! The latest issue of Den of Geek Magazine is out today, July 21st.

The early hour of the dragon?

The show will run across 10 episodes and it launches on HBO on Sunday, August the 21st. For the most ardent fans, the show will simulcast with the US, in the early hours of Monday. It will be available on demand immediately after with a more sensible linear slot on Monday evening.

Matt Smith stars in the show alongside Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenrya. Rhys Ifans plays Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, with Olivia Cooke as his daughter Lady Alicent. The cast is rounded out by Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, The Sea Snake. Plus, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria and Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen.

We’ll keep you posted on House of the Dragon.