26 October 2021
Guest Post
The eagerly anticipated prequel of Game of Thrones has had its first trailer teased by HBO Max. House of the Dragon is slated for release in 2022, helping to keep the Game of Thrones franchise alive and kicking. Game of Thrones was the most popular programme in the history of HBO. It also remains the most successful primetime drama series at the Emmy’s.
There are many who are intrigued by the prequel of a franchise that’s become synonymous worldwide. Its co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik spoke recently and insisted the team remains “very respectful” of the “original show”. Sapochnik insists the decision to develop a prequel wasn’t because the original concept was “broken”, and next year’s release will have “its own tone” which is guaranteed to “evolve and emerge” over the coming months.
Expectations will be understandably high for House of the Dragon given how dedicated a following the Game of Thrones quickly generated. The GoT franchise saw HBO piggyback the show’s success with a string of official apparel. The show also enjoyed brief cameos in other pop culture hits like The Simpsons’ Season 29 episode titled ‘The Serfsons’.
Same look and feel but a new approach in House of the Dragon
Sapochnik confirmed that House of the Dragon will continue to utilise the same “colour palette” as its predecessor, but he said the production team was focused on ensuring the prequel could succeed in its own right. Some of the most recent pictures teased from the set of House of the Dragon were gleaned from the set of Leavesden Studios, making it clear that GoT fans will be returned to Winterfell.
With the addition of stars like Matt Smith and Olivia Cooke, House of the Dragon will focus largely on the Targaryen dynasty and the fall-out from a civil war that tarnished the family name. King Viserys nears the end of his reign and the ensuing battle to succeed him begins. King Viserys’ daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, and his second wife, Queen Alicent Hightower, both believe their sons are fit for the Targaryen throne. As viewers can see from the initial trailer, the prequel will contain plenty of iconic power plays and battles as seen in GoT, but Sapochnik is desperate for it to be “seen as something else”. He acknowledged that the show would need to “earn” that respect and that it “won’t happen overnight”.
