Trailer For Game Of Thrones Prequel House Of The Dragon Has Dropped

Game of Thrones fans have been given a glimpse into the events before the series and its divisive ending in a teaser for the prequel House of the Dragon.

Set to be released later this year, the series tells the story of House Targaryen 200 years before the epic events in Game of Thrones and stars Paddy Considine as King Viserys I, Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra, Viserys’ first child, and Doctor Who star Matt Smith as Prince Daemon, Viserys’ younger brother.

Other cast members include Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower, Olivia Cooke as Otto's daughter Lady Alicent Hightower, Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon and Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria.

Though the final season of Game of Thrones left some fans feeling underwhelmed, House of the Dragon looks set to offer an epic comeback as a source close to production indicated the new show has so far cost more per episode than the final series of Game of Thrones.

The first ten episodes of House of the Dragon set creators back under $20 million per episode, the source told Variety, compared to $15m per episode for the final series of Game of Thrones and $6m per episode in series one.

HBO

The budget isn't the only thing that's changed either, as Smith told Comicbook in March the upcoming series is 'really different to the original'.

He continued: "I mean it has to be. The original series was its own thing and it was, it was so brilliant and, and sort of left a mark in a way that it would be impossible to repeat. So, I don't know.

"The truth is I haven't seen any so it's difficult for me. Essentially it's in the same world, it has to take on a slightly different identity. But who knows? I have no idea."

House of the Dragon gained approval from Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin after the series wrapped filming, when he wrote in a blog post he had seen 'rough cuts' of a few of the series' 10 episodes and was 'loving them'.

Writing in February, he said 'a lot more work' had to be done, but the 'writing, the directing [and] the acting all look terrific'.

"I hope you will like them as much as I do," he added.

House of the Dragon is slated for release on 21 August 2022 on HBO Max in the US, and 22 August on Sky Atlantic in the UK.