House of Dragon season 2: Release Window, Cast, Episode details & everything so far

The House of Dragon season 1 significantly impacted Game of Thrones fans since this spinoff is a prequel to GoT series. Season 1 of the show received immense praise, followed by the announcement about the next season in October 2022. Based on the book Fire & Blood by George R R Martin, the storyline of House of Dragon revolves around the Targaryen family.

Despite the ongoing writers’ strike, the show is definitely slated for release in 2024. Though kept under wraps, the plot is expected to come up with surprises, twists, and bigger attractions. In a statement, Ryan Condal, the showrunner, has confirmed that production has started with old and new talents as part of the crew.

To answer the speculations about how House of Dragon connects to the storyline of Game of Thrones, actor Paddy Considine hinted during a TV appearance that season 2 of the show will fall in line with the storytelling rhythms of Game of Throne while being close to Greek and Shakespearean tragedy.

House of Dragon season 2 potential plot, release details & more

The storyline of the House of Dragon is ready to move forward in season 2 (Image via HBO)

Season 1 of the show introduced the conflict concerning the iron throne. The conflict led to Lucerys’ death by Aemond during a dragon fight in the storm. Rhaenyra, who had been trying to maintain peace between the greens and the blacks, may turn revengeful after learning that Alicent’s son killed hers.

There may be a scene from the book Blood and Cheese, as confirmed by writer Sara Hess when speaking to the media. Fans waiting for real dragons in season 1 are in for a treat in the upcoming season, as Condal said there would be five new dragons.

House of Dragon season 2 cast details explored

Old and new characters make the ensemble of season 2 (Image of HBO)

Most of the main cast from season 1 will be back for this season. However, actor Paddy Considine who portrayed Viserys Targaryen, will not continue since Viserys died in the first season. The main cast who may feature in season 2 are:

Emma D’Arcy – Rhaenyra Targaryen
Matt Smith – Daemon Targaryen
Eve Best – Rhaenys Targaryen
Ewan Mitchell – Aemond Targaryen
Olivia Cooke – Alicent Hightower
Steve Toussaint – Corlys Valeryon
Harry Collette – Jacaerys Valeryon
Fabian Frankel – Criston Cole

Some new cast members to join the second season of the House of Dragon team are:

Abubakar Salim – Alys Rivers
Simon Russell Beale – Ser Simon Strong
Freddie Fox – Ser Gawyne Hightower
Gayle Rankin – Alys Rivers

Number of episodes expected in House of Dragon Season 2

The first season of House of Dragon had ten episodes, and the next season was supposed to have the same number. However, showrunner Condal looked at the bigger picture and pushed a major battle to season 3. This brought down the number of episodes for this season to eight.

Unlike the previous season, which rushed 30 years through the storyline of 10 episodes, this season will not have any time jumps. Since there are no recasts, the story moves in real-time. Condal further stated that the show's scope will get vast as wars need allegiances from other kingdoms. He also promised more “spectacle” with dragons and big wars.

Miguel Sapochnik, one of the showrunners from the previous season, has stepped down though he will remain an executive producer. This leaves Condal as the sole showrunner this season. Alan Taylor, who has directed some part of Game of Thrones, has come in as another executive producer.

Initially, speculations were rife about whether the show would run for four seasons. While there is no official confirmation from the makers, the book Fire & Blood runs to almost 800 pages, with a second volume planned, making more seasons a possibility.

The expected debut for House of Dragon season 2 is next year, with production going as scheduled. Initially, there were rumors of an April or May 2024 release. However, HBO chief Casey Bloys has hinted during an interview that the show would not be eligible for the 2024 Emmys, which means there would not be a summer release.

Fans can anticipate catching the show in late 2024 exclusively on HBO Max.

About the author

Poushali is a comics and pop culture writer at Sportskeeda with a Master's degree in English Literature and an Advanced Diploma in Creative Writing. With a mammoth 17 years of experience under her belt at companies such as InfoCognitio, Tata Interactive Systems, ICFAI, Wordsmith, DAV Public School, and more, Poushali strives to create the most engaging and compelling content.

Poushali's years of experience also mean that she is a master in conducting in-depth research on any topic she covers, and cross-checking facts with official sources to produce top-notch content.

Poushali admires the late Chef Anthony Bourdain for his openness to world cultures and also looks up to Shah Rukh Khan's hard work and dedication to his craft. If she could travel back in time, she would love to be part of the classic 'The Sound of Music' as she appreciates its cinematography, script, and narrative.

When she's not working, Poushali enjoys binging on the latest K-dramas, Hollywood shows, and Indian series across OTT platforms.

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Edited by Shreya Das