Revolutionizing the TV industry with its massively expansive plotlines, wicked politics, warring families, and vivid locations, HBO’s Game of Thrones rapidly became one of the most popular shows to ever exist since its inception. With staggering budgets comparable to major blockbuster movies, only the dragons could rival the size of the show’s overall production cost. And now, the prequel/spin-off House of the Dragon will officially enter production.
Related: Game of Thrones House of the Dragon Prequel Series Gets 2022 Release Date
Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon is reported to be set 193 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Following the story of the most powerful family in Westeros, the spin-off will explore the rich and fiery legacy of the only surviving dragonlords from the ancient land of Valyria, House Targaryen.
Earlier this week, The Illuminerdi had reported that HBO is eyeing Doctor Who star Matt Smith for the role of a Targaryen Prince. Now, the site has revealed the official date when House of the Dragon will start filming.
Dragons are coming.#HouseoftheDragon begins production in 2021. pic.twitter.com/Bxl763FVdY
— Game of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) December 3, 2020
During its peak, Game of Thrones had inspired a sizeable number of spin-offs planned. From exploring the origins of the wildlings to building the Wall, the legacy of Game of Thrones was planned to become as expansive as the seven kingdoms. Unfortunately, the sharp decline in quality of the last two seasons, an unsatisfactory ending, and creative differences led to shelving most of these spin-off shows. But thankfully, HBO has finally greenlit House of the Dragon with Macbeth (2015) star Paddy Considine cast as King Viserys Targaryen the First. The show is co-created by Ryan Condal with Miguel Sapochnik serving as the show’s director and showrunner. George R.R. Martin is also reported to serve as an executive producer. The official synopsis of the show is given below:
The prequel series finds the Targaryen dynasty at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires—real and imagined—crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins almost 193 years before the events of Game of Thrones, when King Viserys Targaryen breaks with a century of tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne. But when Viserys later fathers a son, the court is shocked when Rhaenyra retains her status as his heir, and seeds of division sow friction across the realm.
A classic case of not aging well with time, the highly divisive last season of Game of Thrones has led to a sharp decline in the show’s massive popularity which it enjoyed at its peak. Though the news of House of the Dragon is exciting news, HBO must ensure that quality is paramount with able showrunners at the helm. The first season of House of the Dragon is reported to have ten episodes. As the show will explore the Targaryen civil war, best known as Dance of the Dragons, which drove the dragons to extinction, the spin-off can easily cement itself if it sticks to the basics of Game of Thrones’ massive popularity: wicked politics.
