HBO condemns House of the Dragon finale leak as 'unlawful action'

HBO has said it is ‘disappointed’ by the House of the Dragon finale leak, describing it as an ‘unlawful action’ that has impacted the viewing experience for the show’s ‘loyal fans’.

The Game of Thrones prequel draws to a close this week with its 10th and final episode, following a season packed with dragons, bloodshed and, of course, incest.

But as excitement mounts for the last instalment, it seems not everyone’s been willing to wait until it airs in the US on Sunday and in the UK the following day – after the finale was leaked online yesterday (21 October).

While many viewers vowed to stay well away until the programme’s official transmission, others admitted on Twitter that they had caved, having been able to access the episode via illegal torrent sites.

Bosses at HBO have now said they feel disappointed by the leak, encouraging viewers to hold off for the ‘pristine version of the episode’ when it airs on HBO and its streaming service HBO Max.

In a statement sent to Deadline, a spokesperson said: “We are aware that the 10th episode of House of the Dragon has been posted on illegal torrent sites.”

HBO/Sky

They continued: “It appears to have originated from a distribution partner in the EMEA region. HBO is aggressively monitoring and pulling these copies from the internet.

“We’re disappointed that this unlawful action has disrupted the viewing experience for loyal fans of the show, who will get to see a pristine version of the episode when it premieres Sunday on HBO and HBO Max, where it will stream exclusively in 4K.”

The HBO drama is based on author George RR Martin's Fire And Blood, which is set 200 years before the events of Game Of Thrones.

Starring Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy and Paddy Considine, it chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen and the events leading up to the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons.

And the good news for anyone that's enjoyed season one is that the show has already been confirmed for a second series.

Announcing the renewal, Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO programming, said: "We are beyond proud of what the entire House of the Dragon team has accomplished with season one.

HBO/Sky

"Our phenomenal cast and crew undertook a massive challenge and exceeded all expectations, delivering a show that has already established itself as must-see-TV.

"A huge thank you to George, Ryan, and Miguel for leading us on this journey.

"We couldn't be more excited to continue bringing to life the epic saga of House Targaryen with Season 2."

The season finale for House of the Dragon will air in the US on HBO and stream on HBO Max on 23 October, before airing in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW from 24 October.