The upcoming Game of Thrones prequel has begun casting for its major characters.
According to Entertainment Weekly, HBO has begun the search for the lead stars of the prequel series titled House of the Dragon.
As the title indicates, the new series will focus on the history of the dragon-riding Targaryen family, drawing from author George R. R. Martin’s book Fire and Blood.
Set 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones, Fire and Blood unveils the history of Daenerys Targeryen’s family, who began HBO’s hit series in exile.
House of the Dragon’s showrunners are Ryan J. Condal, who co-created the sci-fi series Colony, and Miguel Sapochnik, who directed some of Game of Thrones’ biggest battle episodes.
While no casting details have been made publicly available for House of the Dragon, fans speculate the show will be filling significant roles that will be drawn from Fire and Blood.
These characters include King Viserys I, the fifth Targaryen who reigns peacefully until his death; Princess Rhaenyra, King Viserys' chosen heir who becomes the first ruling Queen of Westeros; Queen Alicent Hightower, Viserys' ambitious second wife who has three children of her own with Viserys; and Aegon II Targaryen, Rhaenyra's younger half brother who challenges her claim to the throne, igniting a civil war.
EW reports a source as stating that the civil war, known as the “Dance of the Dragons” and often referenced in Game of Thrones, would feature in the series.
House of the Dragon is the replacement series for a separate project starring Naomi Watts that filmed a pilot, but was eventually scrapped.
Given the codename Bloodmoon, the prequel was to be set thousands of years before Game of Thrones, and featured Watts playing a “charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret”.
House of the Dragon is reportedly expected in 2022, with HBO committing to a ten-episode first season.
