The trailer for House of the Dragon has come, seemingly out of nowhere. As part of its European debut date announcement, HBO Max released the first teaser trailer for its first Game of Thrones prequel spin-off series House of the Dragon on Tuesday. (In Europe, HBO Max premieres on October 26.) The first House of the Dragon teaser establishes the series’ setting – 200 years before the Iron Throne fell — when the Targaryens used dragons to conquer Westeros. Although the one-minute House of the Dragon teaser doesn’t reveal much, it does set the tone for the series.
“Gods. Kings. The Hand of the Kingpin on Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) clutching the sword and seated on a throne, and his kids Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) on a beach are all featured in the House of the Dragon teaser video. A Targaryen in the fight, a tourney, and Otto’s daughter Alicent are all shown briefly (Olivia Cooke).
“We didn’t become rulers because of our dreams. As we watch a Targaryen lady whose face we can’t see walk towards a very different Iron Throne than the one we know from Game of Thrones, the speaker reappears. This one is rougher, more pointed, and surrounded by swords welded into the earth. I must add, this is quite hazardous, especially for any rulers who are prone to drinking. The first House of the Dragon teaser ends with a title card and a reminder that the film will be released in 2022.
House of the Dragon, created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal and based on Martin’s Fire & Blood novel, is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. While the novel begins with Aegon I Targaryen’s conquest of Westeros’ Seven Kingdoms, House of the Dragon begins with Viserys I, Aegon’s great-great-grandson. As a result, House of the Dragon will soon lead us into the infamous civil conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Condal will serve as co-showrunner alongside Game of Thrones veteran Miguel Sapochnik, who will direct the pilot and subsequent episodes of House of the Dragon. Episodes will also be directed by Greg Yaitanes (House), Clare Kilner (The Alienist), and Geeta V. Patel (Meet the Patels). Along with writer Sara Lee Hess (House), Vince Gerardis (Game of Thrones), and Ron Schmidt, Martin, Condal, and Sapochnik serve as executive producers for House of the Dragon (Watchmen). Yaitanes serves as a co-executive producer on the film.
