House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel, will premiere on HBO on August 21.
House of the Dragon takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and dives into the Targaryen civil war, popularly known as the Dance of the Dragons. The show promises a new cast of schemers, political intrigue, and, of course, dragons, based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood.
In House of the Dragon, who can you expect to meet? Let’s take a look at some of the new characters we’ll meet on our way back to Westeros.
King Viserys Targaryen
All hail Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine), the first of his name and King of Westeros. He is the Targaryen dynasty’s fifth king. All he cares about is preserving his family’s legacy and promoting peace and prosperity in the kingdom. In essence, he’s a nice guy — but we’ve seen what good guys can get themselves into in Westeros before.
Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon
Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and her uncle Daemon are pictured above, most likely preparing a power play (Matt Smith). King Viserys has an eldest daughter, Rhaenyra, who is in principle his heir, and Viserys’ brother, Daemon. They’re both fearsome dragonriders, so fingers crossed for some solid dragon action early on.
Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys
House of the Dragon introduces House Velaryon, a house we didn’t encounter in Game of Thrones. They are Westeros’ second most powerful house, behind the Targaryens. They’re extremely wealthy, and because they share the Targaryens’ Valyrian ancestry, they’re eligible to marry into the royal line. Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and his wife Rhaenys Targaryen are pictured above (Eve Best). Lord Corlys is a fearsome sailor who has earned the nickname Sea Snake, while Rhaenys is regarded as The Queen Who Never Was. In favor of her cousin Viserys, the Great Council passed her up as heir to the crown.
