House of the Dragon Season 2: Everything We Know About The Second Season
House of the Dragon is a mainstream hit for HBO, and a successful extension of the Game of Thrones franchise into a whole new era – literally and figuratively. The story of the ancient House Targaryen (and the first cracks that led to its fall) was as gripping, fun and shocking as the first Game of Thrones series – and we didn’t have to wait for the dragons to appear! With House of the Dragon season 1 now virtually over, Game of Thrones fans are wondering what the future of the series will be. Below is everything we know about House of the Dragon season 2, so far.
Has House of The Dragon Been Renewed For A Second Season?
Yes. HBO has announced that the second season of House of the Dragon has been renewed, just a month after the first episode of the first season aired.
“We are very proud of what the entire HOUSE OF THE DRAGON team has accomplished with the first season,” said Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO programming, in a statement. “Our phenomenal cast and crew faced an enormous challenge and exceeded all expectations, delivering a show that has already established itself as an unmissable television series. A huge thank you to George, Ryan, and Miguel for guiding us on this journey. We couldn’t be more excited to continue bringing the epic House Targaryen saga to life with Season 2”.
When Will The Second Season Of House Of The Dragon Debut?
A release date has not yet been announced for the second season of House of the Dragon (at the time of writing – check back after the first season finale). Additionally, no season 2 production start date has been publicly announced, nor have there been any set photos, casting announcements, or leaks of any kind that suggest filming is already underway.
How Long Is It To The Start Of House Of The Dragon Season 2?
House of the Dragon season 1 was shot from April 2021 to early 2022, before debuting in late August 2022. This tells us that the show needs about a year of production and half a year of production. Post-production. So if filming doesn’t start before 2023, fans probably shouldn’t expect House of the Dragon season 2 before the summer/fall of 2024. Of course, that could all change if HBO announces the official release date for the second season of House of the Dragon during the first season finale.
The Second Season Of House Of The Dragon Will Have Big Changes In The Creative Team
The second season of House of the Dragon was announced very soon, perhaps too soon. After the announcement, fans were taken by surprise when it became known that showrunner Miguel Sapochnik would be leaving the series before the second season. Sapochnik has been one of the go-to directors/producers for the Game of Thrones franchise since about halfway through the original series. He directed some of the most important and pivotal battle episodes (“Battle of the Bastards”, “The Long Night”) and was instrumental in getting House of the Dragon off the ground. So far, no explanation has been given as to why Sapochnik is abandoning the train right now that HOTD is so popular.
In addition to Miguel Sapochnik, House of the Dragon executive producer Jocelyn Diaz will also be leaving before Season 2. Writer/producer Ryan Condal is the only known showrunner for HOTD’s second season at the moment.
What Will The Second Season Of House Of The Dragon Be About?
House of the Dragon season 1 chronicled the reign of House Targaryen at the time of Viserys I. The season revealed how tensions on Viserys’ line of succession grew after he chose his daughter Rhaenyra as heir, but then he had a child with his childhood friend (and Viserys’ new wife), Queen Alicent. The death of Viserys creates a rift of opinion on his succession and leads to the establishment of his son Aegon II on the throne. Of course, this does not please Princess Rhaenyra and her supporters and leads to a Targaryen civil war known as “The Dance of Dragons”.
It seems pretty clear that House of the Dragon season 2 will primarily focus on the Dance of Dragons conflict, or at least the first half. Without spoilers, the Dance of the Dragons is a bloody and tragic event and is sure to be one of the best second seasons of any TV drama.
Will House Of The Dragon Change The Actors Again?
House of the Dragon is now known for introducing talented actors who were quickly changed and/or eliminated. So, how many fan-favorite actors will be reintroduced in the second season of House of the Dragon?
In the George RR Martin saga story “A Song of Ice and Fire,” The Dance of the Dragons is a two-year (or so) conflict. So aside from some of the young characters currently seen (the two sons of Rhaenyra and Daemon; the sons of Aegon with sister Helaena), don’t expect House of the Dragon to change many other major actors in the second season. Unless, of course, an actor leaves the show for whatever reason…
