LIFE & CULTURE

The ‘Game Of Thrones’ Prequel Trailer Is Finally Here, And Yes, The Targaryens Are Back

"Gods, kings, fire and blood."

It’s official, Game of Thrones is back on our screens—well, kind of. Thanks to a newly released trailer, fans of the fantasy series can expect to see an addition to the story with the release of the show’s prequel, House Of The Dragon.

Set 200 years before the war of the seven kingdoms, the show will follow the Targaryen family—home of Emilia Clarke’s Khaleesi—who currently sit on the Iron Throne and chronicles their fight to stay there. 

And along with the enticing trailer, released by HBO on October 5, the prequel looks to star an impressive lineup of talent.

Starring as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy plays the king’s firstborn child who is also a proud dragonrider. Starring as her uncle, The Crown‘s Matt Smith plays Prince Daemon Targaryen, the younger brother to King Viserys and the rightful heir to the throne. Sound familiar?

Come the one-minute sneak peek, there is already a hint that the terrifying, mythical beasts will make a cameo.

“Dreams didn’t make us kings,” Daemon admits in the trailer. “Dragons did.”

House Of The Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin’s 2018 novel, Fire and Blood, which tells the story of the civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who are fighting to win the Iron Throne, following the death of their father, Viserys I. And as we know, their fight dragged in the rest of Westeros, like House Stark and House Lannister, and saw the extinction of dragons—of course, that was until Khaleesi came onto the scene.

Joining Smith and D’Arcy is Steve Toussaint, who stars as Lord Corlys Velaryon, otherwise known as ‘The Sea Snake’. A famous nautical adventurer, Velaryon is an ancestor from the ancient Valyrian bloodline, who is shockingly wealthier than than the Lannister family.  Rhys Ifans is also set to play Otto Hightower, who was the Hand Of The King and believed Daemon to be the throne’s biggest threat. Lastly, Olivia Cooke stars as Alicent Hightower, Otto’s daughter and the wife of King Viserys I Targaryen.

And for those who were concerned that the prequel couldn’t possibly live up to the intensity of the original show, well, today’s your lucky day. Miguel Sapochnik, who directed Game of Thrones‘ ‘Battle of the Bastards’, among many other favourites, is taking on the role of showrunner, alongside co-creator Ryan Condal.

Intrigued? House of the Dragon is set to premiere in Australia on August 22.

In the meantime, you can re-watch (and re-obsess over) Game Of Thrones on BINGE here.

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