Ahead of the release of HBO's much-anticipated show House of the Dragon, showrunners Ryan J. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik said it is a complex Shakespearean family drama. The trailer has already spurred a slew of theories about the Game of Thrones Prequel.
Despite being a spinoff and prequel, House of the Dragon is a separate story with new characters set in the same world. The audience will be seeing more of the Targaryen family in Westeros before the rebellion and the end of their rule.
The fantasy drama is based on George R.R. Martin's 2018 novel Fire and Blood. It is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and shows the beginning of the end of House Targaryen. The show is likely to cover the events leading up to and during the Targaryen war of succession.
Showrunners said House of the Dragon is about the dissolution of one family which happens to be the most powerful one in the history of Westeros. Bitter rivalries, jealousy, lust, the quest for power, and betrayal are common themes. The events of the show are powerful enough to destroy a dynasty that has ruled the continent unchallenged for a century.
Sapochnik said the story begins with the Targaryens in a secure place because they have the dragons, the weapons of mass destruction. "They know it is hard to imagine anyone stepping up to them as long as they have dragons. But, that hubris could be their downfall."
The trailer indicates that Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, ruling king Viserys's firstborn child, is a powerful dragon rider who is expected to become the first queen regnant of the Seven Kingdoms. However, not everyone agrees with her right over the Iron Throne. Prince Daemon Targaryen is her uncle who is also heir presumptive and an unrivaled warrior.
The 10-episode series stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno, Fabien Frankel, and Rhys Ifans. The show will stream on Disney+ Hotstar from August 22. New episodes are being released every Monday.