HBO’s House of the Dragon, which was renewed for a second season less than a week after the Game of Thrones prequel debuted in August 2022, is officially back in production. The show, created by Ryan Condal and George R. R. Martin, drew nearly 10 million viewers during its premiere, making it the largest audience for any new original series in HBO history, per HBO.
Needless to say, legions of fans are anxiously awaiting more details about the show’s second season. Here’s everything we know so far.
When was House of the Dragon renewed for Season 2?
HBO announced on Aug. 26, 2022, that the drama series had been renewed for a second season. The announcement came just five days after the first episode premiered to massive numbers: Nearly 10 million people tuned in, and even more watched episode 2. According to HBO, the debut season averaged at least 29 million viewers per episode.
Will there be House of the Dragon Season 3?
Season 3 of House of the Dragon is already looking promising. In May 2023, HBO Drama Chief Francesca Orsi suggested the series could run through at least Season 4.
Related: Milly Alcock Reveals if She Drew Inspiration from Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys for House of the Dragon
What is the release date for Season 2 of House of the Dragon?
HBO has not revealed as exact release date for House of the Dragon Season 2, but we know the series is expected back in summer 2024. So be prepared to wait just a little longer for more of the Targaryen crew’s drama.
Who is in the House of the Dragon Season 2 cast?
HBO confirmed the cast on April 11, 2023. Not surprisingly, the key players in House of the Dragons have all been confirmed. These include:
Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen)
Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower)
Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen)
Eve Best (Princess Rhaenys Targaryen)
Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon)
Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole)
Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole)
Ewan Mitchell (Prince Aemond Targaryen)
Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II Targaryen) 
Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria)
Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower)
Other returning cast members for Season 2 include Harry Collett (Jace Velaryon), Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen), Phoebe Campbell (Rhaena Targaryen), Phia Saban (Helaena Targaryen), Jefferson Hall (Jason Lannister), and Matthew Needham (Larys Strong).
New Season 2 cast members include Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.
What is House of the Dragon about?
The HBO original series tells the story of the House Targaryen. The program is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and examines the predecessors to Daenerys, the Dragon Queen.
How many episodes are in House of the Dragon Season 2?
House of the Dragon Season 2 will consist of eight episodes. That’s a contraction from the 10-episode first season. HBO confirmed to Deadline that the decision to trim the season to 8 episodes was “story-driven,” not due to leadership changes or Warner Bros. Discovery’s focus on cost-cutting.
What will happen in Season 2 of House of the Dragon?
We’ll probably have a better idea of what to expect from the season in the months to come, but it sounds like there will be new dragons—and severed heads—in the show’s future.
Variety reported in July 2022 that co-showrunner Condal confirmed during San Diego Comic-Con that production was “already working on dragons that viewers won’t even see in Season 1, which are meant for Season 2 plots” and joked they “have a ‘severed head budget’ specifically for Season 2.”
House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. Spoilers ahead!
According to Martin’s website, the book begins “with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.”
“The moment that [Rhaenyra] receives the news of [her son] Luke’s passing, that attempt at mediation crumbles,” Emma D’Arcy told Entertainment Weekly about Rhaenyra’s change come Season 2. “I don’t think there is any longer the bandwidth to suppress and repress her nature… I am excited to discover what happens when Rhaenyra does less navigating and more acting on her instincts and desires. For so many very legitimate reasons, she has her hands tied practically throughout Season 1. I have a feeling that the rein might be off for Season 2.”
