House Targaryen is starting to take its form. HBO has cast three actors to play some of the major lead roles. The House of Dragon is a highly anticipated Game of Thrones spinoff that will serve as a prequel to the series.
Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, and Matt Smith will be joining the prequel series. Greg Yaitanes has joined as the director and co-executive producer for the series. Clare Kilner and Geeta V. Patel will also join him to helm some episodes for the fantasy series.
The Game of Thrones prequel is based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the story is set 300 years before the events that occurred within the Game of Thrones timeline. It will tell the story of the rise of House Targaryen.
D'Arcy will be playing the role of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, which was described as the ‘kind's first-born child, she is of pure Valyrian blood, and a dragon-rider.' Rhaenyra will be known as someone born with everything, but not born a man.
Cooke will play the character Alicent Hightower, which HBO describes as "the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the Kind, the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms." Alicent was raised in the Red Keep, who is close to the king and his inner circle. She has a courtly grace and keen political acumen.
Meanwhile, Smith will portray the role of Prince Daemon Targaryen. Daemon is the younger brother of King Vyserys who is the heir to the throne. He is a peerless warrior and dragon-rider. Daemon has the true blood of the dragon. However, he wasn't set for the throne as the description says, "when Targaryens are born, the gods toss a coin."
Paddy Considine was previously cast as King Vyserys Targaryen. According to HBO, Vyserys was chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council at Harrenhal. He is a kind and decent man who only wishes to carry his grandfather's legacy. However, good men do not necessarily make for great kings.
House of Dragon is currently in pre-production with a 10-episode order from HBO.
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