"House of the Dragon" TV series: all that is known by this day

Saddle up, we're coming back to Westeros! In March, HBO officially announced the premiere date of the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon. Photos of the cast of the highly anticipated drama were released, and hints were given as to what to expect on screen. The action will unfold 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones". Recall, the screening of this popular series ended in 2019. House of the Dragon" will not mention Daenerys Targaryen and the burning of King's Landing, but it will show her ancestors.

Saddle up, we're coming back to Westeros! In March, HBO officially announced the premiere date of the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon. Photos of the cast of the highly anticipated drama were released, and hints were given as to what to expect on screen. The action will unfold 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones". Recall, the screening of this popular series ended in 2019. House of the Dragon" will not mention Daenerys Targaryen and the burning of King's Landing, but it will show her ancestors.

"The house of dragon" release date.

The first episode of House of the Dragon is scheduled for release on August 21st. The start of filming the series was announced on Twitter in the last April.

The first reviews of the series are out, and they are positive.

A lucky few have already managed to visit Westeros. Critics reported on the reaction to the project on Twitter. And one of them noted that the creators "were up to the task".

Even George R.R. Martin was thrilled after watching it.

A week before the premiere, Martin, the writer and author of the Dragon House story, said he had watched all ten episodes of the TV show. According to him, it was "great." "I liked what I saw," he wrote on his blog. "'House of the Dragon' has everything I hoped for: a dark, powerful, intuitive, disturbing, stunning adaptation populated by complex and authentic characters played by, really, terrific actors."

"House of the Dragon" was not created by the same professionals who did "Game of Thrones."

"Game of Thrones" co-writers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have nothing to do with the prequel series. They confirmed this in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. At the helm of "House of the Dragon" are George R.R. Martin and Ryan Kondal. The latter also served as showrunner on the project, paired with Miguel Sapochnik.

"The house of the dragon" is based on the book by George R. R. R. Martin's book.

The series is based on George R.R. Martin's book "Flame and Blood," published in 2018. "Flame and Blood" is an 800-page chronicle of the Dance of Dragons, or in official terminology, the Targaryen war for the throne, in which Aegon II and his half-sister Rhaenyra fought for the throne of his father Viserys I. The whole of Westeros was involved in the process.

The official synopsis reads, "Centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, House Targaryen, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria, settled in the castle of Dragonstone. The narrative of Flame and Blood begins with the story of the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and continues with the story of generations of Targaryens who tried to hold on to this iconic place, right up to the civil war that nearly destroyed the entire dynasty."

In essence, the television series will tell the story of House Targaryen. In doing so, "House of the Dragon" will answer some of the remaining questions: "What really happened during the Dance of Dragons? Why was visiting Valyria deadly after The Rock? What are the worst crimes of Maegor the Cruel?"

The cast of "Dragon House" includes Matt Smith and Paddy Considine.

Adhering to the approach of its predecessors, the creators of "Dragon House" have introduced a numerous cast and a set of complex relationships. Paddy Considine (TV series "The Informer" and "The Third Day") will appear on screen as Viserys Targaryen, chosen by the lords of Westeros to take the throne and replace the Old King, his grandfather Jaerys Targaryen.

Emma D'Arcy ("A Passion for Adventure") will play Princess Rhaenyra. King Viserys I will break the line to the throne by naming Rhaenyra as heir to the throne. During the Dance of the Dragons, Rhaenyra battles her half-brother Aegon II.

Princess Rhaenyra's story will be explored in its entirety, which means flashbacks. The young princess will be played by Millie Allcock.

Matt Smith (TV series "The Crown" and "Doctor Who") will play the role of Prince Damon, Viserys' younger brother. HBO describes him as "an incomparable warrior and dragon rider.

Rhys Evans will play Otto Hightower, the king's right-hand man. He sees Damon as "the greatest threat to the kingdom," according to HBO.

Olivia Cooke will appear as Alicenta Hightower, Otto's daughter who grew up in Red Castle. Emily Carey will portray Alicenta as a child.

Steve Toussaint will play Lord Corlys Velarion, nicknamed the Sea Serpent for his aquatic adventures. As head of House Velarion, he is even richer than the Lannisters in Game of Thrones.

Sonoya Mizuno will play the role of Misaria, a former slave. She is now free, protecting and supporting Prince Damon Targaryen.

Other characters to watch out for.

Eve Best as Rhaenys Velarion, the wife of Lord Corlys. A Targaryen-born Rhaenys cedes the right to the throne to her cousin Viserys.

Fabienne Frankel as Dornean Christon Kohl, Lord Blackhaven's steward.

Notably absent from the list of characters in the series is Aegon II, an important character in Martin's book Flame and Blood. But at the same time, the Lannisters are on this list.

Where would one go without dragons?!

As the title of the TV show makes clear, dragons are supposed to be on the show. According to Kondal, there will be 17 flying reptiles that differ from each other in character and appearance.

"It was important to differentiate them not only in terms of appearance, behavior and mannerisms, but also in the way they interact with the riders," the writer told Den of Geek.