Dragons have returned to the skies of Westeros as House of the Dragon begins production on Season 3. HBO officially confirmed via Variety that filming is underway in the United Kingdom, with the fantasy drama entering its next phase of Targaryen turmoil. The announcement comes with a mix of returning fan favourites and newly introduced characters who are expected to add further fuel to the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, helped mark the occasion with a message to fans, kicking off day one of production. They are set to reprise their role alongside Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, and Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon. House of the Dragon Season 3 will maintain the format of the previous chapter, running for eight episodes, though HBO has yet to confirm a premiere date.
New additions to the ensemble include Tommy Flanagan, best known for Sons of Anarchy, who steps into the role of Ser Roderick Dustin. Dan Fogler, of Fantastic Beasts franchise fame, joins as Ser Torrhen Manderly. James Norton, previously announced, will portray Ormund Hightower, bringing another piece of the political chessboard into focus.
Directorial duties for the season will rotate between returning names and a few newcomers. Clare Kilner, Andrij Parekh, and Loni Peristere are back, joined by Nina Lopez-Corrado, whose previous credits include Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Supernatural.
Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the show is set two centuries before Game of Thrones, chronicling the downfall of House Targaryen. With the death of Lucerys Velaryon still reverberating across the realm and fragile attempts at diplomacy having failed, Westeros now braces for a full-scale war between the Black and Green factions.
Season 2 laid the groundwork for bloodshed, but the fallout is only beginning. As old alliances fracture and new forces enter the fray, House of the Dragon Season 3 promises to widen the battlefield — both in scope and consequence, starting with the Battle of the Gullet.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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