HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, has been officially renewed for a second season after the premiere received 20 million views (in the US) in a matter of days ‒ breaking the HBO network record set by the first episode of the sixth season of Game of Thrones in 2016.
Executive Vice President of HBO, Francesca Orsi commented on the unexpectedly early renewal; “Our phenomenal cast and crew undertook a massive challenge and exceeded all expectations, delivering a show that has already established itself as must-see-TV.”
“A huge thank you [George R.R. Martin, Ryan Condal, and Miguel Sapochnik] for leading us on this journey. We couldn’t be more excited to continue bringing to life the epic saga of House Targaryen with season two.”
HBO did not comment on the number of episodes in the second season, or when it will go into production; however, current estimates suggest that season two will also be comprised of 10 episodes and that it likely will not be our screens until late 2023/early 2024.
House Of The Dragon is an adaptation of the second half of the first volume of George R. R. Martin’s latest novel from the A Song of Ice and Fire series ‒ 2018’s Fire & Blood. The show is set 200 years before the events of Game Of Thrones and follows a war of succession among
House Targaryen. It stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, and Rhys Ifans.
Despite what is considered by some to be a disappointing conclusion to the original series, this staggering viewership and subsequent renewal demonstrates Game of Throne’s enduring popularity and could bode well for the actualisation of the franchise’s other planned spinoffs (a confirmed four scripted and at least three animated).
House of the Dragon continues in the UK on the 29 August 2022 at 2am on Sky Atlantic.
Words by Luke Horwitz
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