Miguel Sapochnik is a name that makes Game of Thrones fans pay attention. As the director of some of the best episodes of the series, Sapochnik is treated like a deity and gets a lot of respect from the fandom. However, the co-showrunner of the spin-off series House of the Dragon initially didn't want to return for the new show, claiming that he didn't want to do more "Thrones."
If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you know who Miguel Sapochnik is. He helmed the hard-hitting Season 5 episode Hardhome as well as the Emmy Award-winning Season 6 episode Battle of the Bastards, among many action-packed episodes. With that in mind, HBO would be crazy not to bring Sapochnik back for House of the Dragon.
However, things weren't quite as simple as it seems. In an in-depth feature by The Hollywood Reporter, it was revealed that House of the Dragon co-showrunner Ryan Condal had a hard time convincing Sapochnik to return to the Seven Kingdoms.
“Miguel said, ‘I’m never doing Thrones again,’” Condal said. Luckily, he has been good friends with Sapochnik for some time and the latter agreed to guide Condal in the project. Eventually, Sapochnik was convinced to be involved in House of the Dragon and agreed to serve as co-showrunner.
It's great to know that Miguel Sapochnik will be back for House of the Dragon although it is unclear if he is directing any of the show's episodes just yet. Either way, just knowing that he is part of the Game of Thrones prequel assures us that the legendary Dance of the Dragons will be something to watch out for in the new series.
House of the Dragon takes place 200 years before the events in Game of Thrones and will focus on the fall of House Targaryen. The series premieres on HBO on August 21, 2022.
Related: George R.R. Martin Reveals Why First Game of Thrones Prequel was Cancelled