Spoilers for Home of the Dragon under.
Home of the Dragon has been renewed for a second season on HBO, which comes as no shock following the present’s record-breaking premiere on Aug. 21.
Given its predecessor, Sport of Thrones, dominated TV for eight seasons, this may very well be the start of one other years-long reign for the fantasy franchise primarily based on George RR Martin’s books. (The writer can be an govt producer on the collection, whereas Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik are co-showrunners.)
“We’re past pleased with what the complete Home of the Dragon staff has completed with season one,” Francesca Orsi, govt vp of HBO programming, stated in an announcement. “Our phenomenal forged and crew undertook an enormous problem and exceeded all expectations, delivering a present that has already established itself as must-see-TV. An enormous thanks to George, Ryan, and Miguel for main us on this journey. We could not be extra excited to proceed bringing to life the epic saga of Home Targaryen with season two.”
Whereas the premise for the following season stays unconfirmed, we will anticipate a dive deeper into the historical past of Home Targaryen, and the civil struggle known as the Dance of Dragons, similar to the present’s supply materials, Martin’s Fireplace & Blood.
When does Home of the Dragon season 2 come out?
It is too early to say for certain. Nevertheless, followers observed that the Spanish newspaper Hoy reported HBO plans to return to the city of Cáceres, Spain, to movie King’s Touchdown scenes for season 2 from March to June 2023. Utilizing season 1’s timeline as a reference (filming reportedly started in April 2021 and it premiered in August 2022), it appears potential we’ll have to attend till 2024 for the following season to drop.
Certainly, HBO and HBO Max Content material CEO Casey Bloys has stated it is “a great guess” for HOTD to return in 2024—however after the Emmys eligibility interval that 12 months, Selection studies. So the most effective guess for now could be summer time 2024, in response to the outlet. The precise date continues to be unconfirmed.
That stated, Condal has confirmed the manufacturing is plunging head first into season 2, telling Selection, “Due to the extremely demanding manufacturing schedule of the present, sides of the present should overlap with each other, which signifies that we have been writing season 2 lengthy earlier than they ever introduced it, whereas we have been in submit in season 1. So we actually should storm proper into the making of season 2 now with a view to preserve tempo with our followers’ wholesome appetites for materials and HBO’s want and need to launch the present in an affordable timeframe from season to season.”
Who will likely be within the forged?
The official season 2 forged hasn’t been introduced but, however here is our greatest guess on who’s coming again: Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Eve Finest as Rhaenys Targaryen, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen, Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen, Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen, Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon, Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen, Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen, Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling, Matthew Needham as Larys Sturdy, and Jefferson Corridor as Tyland and Jason Lannister.
Some characters’ probabilities of returning are up within the air, like Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan), who’s nonetheless alive however faked his loss of life and exiled himself from Westeros. Might he return within the second season to shake issues up? Or will we now have to attend longer (á la Gendry) for his grand comeback? Additionally, at this level within the collection, it is unconfirmed if Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) will survive and make it into season 2. (All indicators level to sure.)
Sadly, we stated goodbye to Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as younger Rhaenyra and Alicent after the season 1 mid-season time leap. Regardless of hopes that they may present up in flashback scenes in season 2, showrunner Ryan Condal says the younger duo in all probability will not return. “[They] will not be part of the story that we’re telling, but,” he advised Selection. “That is not a factor that we’re doing proper now.”
Paddy Considine sadly took his remaining bow as Viserys in episode 8, so he will not return both. And (a season 1 finale spoiler!) Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys dies on the finish of the season, so Elliot Grihault additionally possible will not come again.
We are able to anticipate quite a lot of new forged additions in season 2, nevertheless. Condal teased to Selection, for example, that the characters Cregan Stark and Daeron Targaryen will make appearances—however he saved his lips sealed as to who will play them.
Who will run the collection?
Sapochnik, Dragon co-showrunner and former Sport of Thrones director, stepped away from the collection in August. Co-creator Condal will proceed showrunning whereas Alan Taylor, a Thrones veteran, will be a part of as an govt producer and can direct a number of episodes subsequent season, per The Hollywood Reporter.
What’s going to season 2 be about?
Given the collection tells the story of the Dance of the Dragons, we will anticipate to see extra occasions from the Targaryen civil struggle hit the display screen. Season 1 ended with a tragic loss of life for Queen Rhaenyra, so the following chapter will possible present the aftermath and the way she reacts to the loss. Whereas many of the first season revolved across the occasions main as much as the civil struggle, the second season will depict the battle in full swing.
Condal advised The Sunday Instances that the following season may have a sooner tempo. “Sequence 2 will hit the rhythms individuals got here to anticipate from the center run of Sport of Thrones, however it is going to have been earned, and viewers will really feel the tragedies as a result of we put the work in,” he stated per IndieWire.
He additionally teased that they plan to incorporate “pure pathways into moments of levity”—in different phrases, extra humor. That could be troublesome with out Peter Dinklage taking part in Tyrion Lannister in Dragon, however Matt Smith may assist fill that hole. “I feel Matt Smith may be very humorous,” Condal added. “If there’s one character that doesn’t care, it’s Daemon.”
What number of seasons will Home of the Dragon have?
George RR Martin has a quantity in thoughts. “It will take 4 full seasons of 10 episodes every to do justice to the Dance of the Dragons, from begin to end,” he wrote in a submit on his web site. Nevertheless, HBO has but to verify plans of a four-season arc. The collection might even go on for longer, contemplating Sport of Thrones went on for eight seasons, with the final two departing from Martin’s books.
This story will likely be up to date.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Tradition Editor at ELLE.com, the place she oversees protection on TV, films, music, books, and extra. She was beforehand an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There’s a 75 % likelihood she’s listening to Lorde proper now.
Tradition Author
Lauren Puckett-Pope is a workers tradition author at ELLE, the place she primarily covers movie, tv and books. She was beforehand an affiliate editor at ELLE.
