House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is an upcoming American fantasy drama television series created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan J. Condal for HBO. It is a prequel to the television series "Game of Thrones" (2011–2019) and is based on Martin's 2018 novel "Fire & Blood". Set two hundred years before the events of "Game of Thrones," the series chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, the events leading up to the Targaryen civil war, known as the "Dance of the Dragons", and the war itself. "House of the Dragon" received a straight-to -series order in October 2019 with casting beginning in July 2020 and principal photography beginning in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. The series is scheduled to premiere on August 21, 2022. Its first season will consist of ten episodes. Production. Development. In November 2018, George R. R. Martin, creator of "A Song of Ice and Fire", stated that a "potential spin-off series would be solidly based on material in "Fire and Blood"." By September 2019, a "Game of Thrones" prequel series from Martin and Ryan J. Condal that "tracks the beginning of the end for House Targaryen" was  close to receiving a pilot order from HBO. The following month, "House of the Dragon", which is based on Martin's book "Fire & Blood" was given a straight-to-series order. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik, who won an Emmy Award for directing the episode "Battle of the Bastards", were selected to serve as showrunners. Sapochnik was also hired to direct the series premiere as well as additional episodes. The series takes place 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones" during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, ultimately leading to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance  of the Dragons. The project is a reworking of the rejected spin-off concept from "Game of Thrones" writer Bryan Cogman, on which HBO officially passed. Writing. In January 2020, Casey Bloys, HBO's President of Programming, stated that writing process had begun and guessed that the series would premiere in 2022. Casting. Casting began in July 2020. In October 2020, Paddy Considine was cast as Viserys I Targaryen. By December, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith and Emma D'Arcy were cast as Alicent Hightower, Daemon Targaryen and Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively while Danny Sapani entered negotiations to join in an unspecified role . In February 2021, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best and Sonoya Mizuno were added to the main cast. By April, Fabien Frankel joined the cast as Ser Criston Cole. In May, Graham McTavish was spotted on set in full wardrobe. Emily Carey and Milly Alcock were added to the cast in July 2021. Filming. Principal photography on the ten-episode first season of the series began in April 2021. The series primarily filmed in the United Kingdom. During the last week of April 2021, filming took place in Cornwall, England. According to Production List, parts of the first season additionally  filmed in Spain and California. "House of the Dragon" was the first production to shoot at Warner Bros' Leavesden Studio's new virtual production stage. On July 18, 2021, production paused for two days due to a positive COVID-19 case. Spanish publication "Hoy" reported that "House of the Dragon" would film in the Province of Cáceres in western Spain between October 11–21, 2021. In October 26–31, the series was filmed in Portugal at the Castle of Monsanto. In February 2022, HBO confirmed that "House of the Dragon" had finished production. Release. "House of the Dragon" is scheduled to premiere on  August 21, 2022. In New Zealand, the series will be distributed by Sky's SoHo TV channel and Neon streaming service.