HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel is in Production: See Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, and More Stars Behind-the-Scenes

By Meghan O'Keefe @megsokay
Published April 26, 2021, 2:03 p.m. ET

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It’s really happening. Today HBO unveiled some behind-the-scenes photos confirming that the long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, is in production. The first social media pics reveal the star-studded cast’s socially distanced table read (in a very Westworld-like setting?). These early behind-the-scenes photos show fans that House of the Dragon isn’t just on the way, but that HBO is sparing no expense to make the Game of Thrones spin-off in as luxurious and COVID-safe a manner as possible. (And yes, we are pumped to see Prince Daemon Targaryen himself, Matt Smith, taking notes!)

House of the Dragon is the first Game of Thrones spin-off to officially get the greenlight from HBO. (RIP Naomi Watts’s prehistoric Westeros pilot.) The series will be set about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, during a tumultuous period of history known as the “Dance of Dragons.” It was at this point that the Targaryen dynasty was at its height. However, that ironically caused problems because there were a surplus of potential heirs, all with fully grown dragons (and psychological issues) of their own. If you thought Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) got brutal over the fate of the Iron Throne, wait until you meet Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and the aforemention Prince Daemon.

Decider has been closely following all the news, rumors, and cast announcements for House of the Dragon. Today is the first day HBO has shared anything more than design sketches or casting news. Today is when we got a glimpse at the full cast brought together for House of the Dragon for HBO and HBO Max. The first pic shared on HBO’s social media channels showed actors like Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, and Emma D’Arcy seated at separate tables in a futuristic conference room. What’s that on the tablets in front of folks? The scripts for House of the Dragon. 

If you saw the original posting on Game of Throne‘s official Instagram page, an image tag would take you to the newly launched official House of the Dragon Instagram, @houseofthedragonhbo. That page featured additional portraits of stars Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Valeryon (aka the Sea Snake), Paddy Considine as the reigning king, Viserys I, and Matt Smith as Viserys’s roguish younger brother, Prince Daemon. Later, the scheming Hightowers: the beautiful Alicent and her father, the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans).

The basic gist of the “Dance of the Dragons” is that after his wife and son die, King Viserys Targaryen decides to name his daughter Rhaenyra as his heir. This is only a problem because the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower soon pushes for his beautiful daughter, Alicent, to become the new queen. When she weds Viserys, she bears him three sons. Rhaenyra, however, also has three sons, by her husband and Targaryen cousin, Laenor Valeryon. The two women bitterly want their sons (or themselves) to take the Iron Throne after Viserys’s death. Further complicating things? Other potential Targaryen heirs, like Eve Best’s passed-over Princess Rhaenys and Prince Daemon himself.

It’s juicy, complicated, courtly drama, made all the more thrilling by the fact that everyone’s got a dragon.

House of the Dragon is now in production and will premiere on HBO and HBO Max in 2022. 

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