House of the Dragon, the acclaimed Game of Thrones prequel, is set to return for its second season in the summer of 2024. The buzz around the upcoming season is growing, especially after the release of its first trailer. This new season will delve into the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, promising intense battles, family betrayals, and dramatic dragon warfare.
George R.R. Martin, the author behind the A Song of Ice and Fire series, shared on his blog his recent trip to London. He met with his book publisher, the team behind the Westeros-set stage adaptation, and the writers of House of the Dragon. Martin had the opportunity to screen the first two episodes of the new season, describing them as rough cuts but a highlight of his trip.
“The highlight of the trip … had to be the sneak preview that [showrunner] Ryan [Condal] gave me of the first two episodes of ‘House of the Dragon,’ Season 2. (Rough cuts, of course),” Martin penned in a blog post. “Of course, I am hardly objective when talking about anything based on my own work… but I have to say, I thought both episodes were just great. (And they are not even finished yet.) Dark, mind you. Very dark. They may make you cry. (I did not cry myself, but one of my friends did.) Powerful, emotional, gut-wrenching, heart-rending. Just the sort of thing I like. (What can I say? I was weaned on Shakespeare, and love the tragedies and history plays best of all.)”
Martin’s visit also included discussions about the potential third and fourth seasons of the show. While HBO has not officially renewed the series beyond its second season, Martin believes it would take four seasons to fully cover the Targaryen civil war.
“They were lively, fun discussions, and we got some good work done… though two days was not nearly enough. There is so much ground to cover that I am not sure 20 days would have been enough.”
The author’s London experience was further enriched by a visit to the House of the Dragon set at Leavesden Studios. Martin was awed by the realism of the Red Keep and Dragonstone sets, comparing them favorably to actual medieval castles he’s visited.
The second season will continue to feature a star-studded cast, including Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, and more, with several Season 1 cast members returning. The upcoming season is poised to build on the dramatic ending of Season 1, which saw the shocking death of Lucerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra Targaryen’s son.
With its anticipated return in 2024, House of the Dragon is set to captivate audiences once again, though an exact release date remains unannounced.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
