One of the stars of House of the Dragon has revealed that there were scenes deleted from season 1 that would have given fans a lot more insight into his intriguing character.
In just a few days’ time, fans of the Game of Thrones spin-off series will be transported back to Westeros to watch war wage between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and the two separate factions of their fiery family.
On Monday June 10, a week before season 2 launches, the cast descended on London’s Leicester Square for a very glitzy and rainy premiere.
Metro.co.uk spoke to several of the actors who have brought George RR Martin’s story to life, including Matthew Needham, who stars as the conniving and mysterious Larys Strong.
In the first season, Larys manages to weave his way into Alicent’s inner circle, providing the Queen with vital knowledge of the inner workings of the court, while also taking advantage of her need for his services.
Larys – who has been compared to Game of Thrones characters such as Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) and Varys (Conleth Hill) – is also known by the nickname ‘Clubfoot’, in reference to the abnormality that he was born with on his foot.
In the world of Westeros, it’s very rare for a character’s nature to be black and white, for them to be deemed a completely benevolent hero or an innately evil villain.
So we wanted to know how Matthew felt about some fans describing Larys as a villain in House of the Dragon, considering the atrocities viewers have seen him commit – including being behind the murders of his own brother and father.
As the actor gave his answer, he also revealed that fans were originally supposed to see more illuminating Larys scenes in season one.
‘I mean I completely get why they think that, he hasn’t been shown to have a lot of redeeming qualities. I don’t think anyone’s a “villain villain”, and I really wanted this season to flesh him out a little bit more, just to show a few different sides to him. There was stuff in the first season that didn’t make it understandably,’ said Matthew.
‘It’s like a 30-year time frame they’re trying to condense. I understand. But this season I really wanted to just show just a few more little different colours to him.’
When questioned further, the 40-year-old confirmed that the scenes in question had been filmed, and would have shown Larys ‘being abused and made fun of’, to allow viewers to ‘get a sense of what he was up against by the world’.
The cut scenes would have also given more context for ‘his world view and his relationship with his brother’.
He emphasised that he understood why the scenes didn’t make the final cut, given they’re restricted to just 60 minutes per episode.
‘But it’s nice to play with that a little bit more this season,’ he added.
Perhaps there could be a chance for the scenes to be included at a later stage of House of the Dragon in flashback sequence?
‘I’d love that, yeah. Anything that fleshes it out would be welcome,’ Matthew responded.
‘I don’t know if they’d be able to, but I’m fine. I’m at peace with it, I’m all good.’
In the first look images of House of the Dragon season two, one of the pictures shows Larys looking very ominous while standing beside a flame, clearly up to plotting something in his schemind mind.
Another picture shows the master whisperer having a one-on-one with Alicent, as she continues to lean on him – perhaps reluctantly – for all-important news and secrets.
The new season of House of the Dragon will follow on from the death of Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), the son of Rhaenyra who was killed on dragonback by his uncle Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell).
The two split sides of the Targaryen clan have never been more divided, as full-out war threatens to break out between them, each boasting powerful dragons at their disposal.
House of the Dragon season 2 is set to premiere on Monday June 17.
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