The Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon will start filming in 2021. Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO, the original drama is a major hit and critically-acclaimed, bagging several awards throughout its entire run. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy novels written by George R. R. Martin. After the series finale in May 2019, two prequel shows are slated to be released as part of its franchise expansion.
One of the prequels was titled Bloodmoon or The Long Night, set during the Age of Heroes and stars Naomi Watts. While a pilot episode for it was reportedly filmed, HBO has decided to forego the show in late 2019. However, its counterpart House of the Dragon had better luck, receiving a straight-to-series order the same month Bloodmoon was canceled.
As suggested by its name, House of the Dragon will feature the story House Targaryen. HBO president Casey Bloys announced in September that the prequel series would premiere in 2022. Shortly after, actor Paddy Considine was casted as Viserys Targaryen, a key character for the upcoming series.
More recently, the new series teased fans with an exciting update regarding its development. In a post on Game of Thrones Twitter account, it revealed that House of the Dragon will begin production in 2021. Along with the announcement came two images featuring some dragons that viewers can expect to see on the show.
When will House of the Dragon be released?
While the tweet confirmed a production date, it remains uncertain when exactly in 2021 filming will begin. However, with a show as complex as Game of Thrones is, it makes sense to film as early as 2021 to make it on time for 2022 projected release. As much as fans hope House of the Dragon will happen sooner rather than later, HBO may want to wait until the pandemic is much more under control.
On the lighter side, when production officially begins, viewers will finally get a better sense of the show. It is likely that more information will be revealed including its casting news, story arc/plot, and behind-the-scenes photos. Moreover, it will be easier to predict when House of the Dragon may also premiere. An early 2021 production could mean an early 2022 release, while a later start would suggest a later premiere. Whichever of the two happens, we could only hope the prequel is as great as the original series.