With the release date for House of the Dragon in the UK and around the world just around the corner, excitement is ramping up for the new Game of Thrones prequel series.
As revealed in the trailer, the show – which stars Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans and Paddy Considine among its stellar cast – will be full of everything fans loved about GOT, from action-packed fights to dragons galore as it follows House Targaryen’s rule over the Seven Kingdoms.
It’s been three years since the divisive season 8 finale of the original show aired, so in our eyes, it’s about time we returned to Westeros to discover more about characters created by A Song of Ice and Fire author George RR Martin.
So when is House of the Dragon set, in relation to Game of Thrones?
Here’s what you need to know about the show, how it corresponds to the timeline and what other spin-offs fans can expect in future.
When is House Of The Dragon set?
House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones.
So, all of the characters in the series will have been long gone by the time the Ned Stark and Daenerys Targaryen-focused tale began, their history is only just about in the distant past.
To be exact, the spin-off is set 172 years before Daenerys’ birth, when she was born on an extremely stormy night at Dragonstone, her family’s ancestral seat.
This is why one of her monikers – of which she has famously many – is Daenerys Stormborn.
While there are many similarities between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, given they take place in the same universe, there are also some notable differences.
Firstly, there are plenty of dragons in existence in the prequel, while 200 years later, it’s believed that all dragons are now extinct.
In House of the Dragon, the Targaryens are at the height of their power, having sat on the Iron Throne for over a hundred years, while in Game of Thrones, Viserys (Harry Lloyd) and Daenerys (Emilia) are two of only a few remaining descendants from their once-indomitable house.
Another major difference in the new show is the introduction of House Velaryon, an ancient house that viewers will have never met before, because they weren’t included in Game of Thrones – despite members of the family still technically being alive in the timeline.
What other Game Of Thrones spin-offs are planned?
One Game of Thrones spin-off that will apparently never see the light of day was Bloodmoon, a prequel that would have been set 10,000 years before the events of the original series.
While it was claimed in September 2019 that the pilot was in post-production, a month later it was announced that HBO had decided to drop the project, which would have starred Naomi Watts as the lead.
In June this year, George RR Martin confirmed that three live-action spin-offs in development, including 10,000 Ships, which refers to the adventures of the legendary Princess Nymeria; 9 Voyages, which will focus on the expeditions of Corlys Velaryon, known as the Sea Snake and played by Steve Toussaint in House of the Dragon; and a project based on the slum in King’s Landing known as Flea Bottom.
It was also confirmed earlier this year that a Jon Snow sequel series starring Kit Harington is in the works, after the actor came up with the idea for the show.
Meanwhile, three animated Game of Thrones spin-offs are understood to also be in development.
The world of Westeros is full of stories to tell – and we can’t wait to watch them all!
House of the Dragon premieres on Monday August 22 on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
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