Team Black and Team Green have a lot to look forward to.
“House of the Dragon,” a prequel series to “Game of Thrones,” is moving forward with a third season, despite what USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler called a disappointing finale.
The HBO series, based on George R.R.’s book “Fire & Blood,” is streaming on Max. The Martin-based team wrapped up its second season on Sunday. The final season, which premiered June 16, was “uneven but often rousing” as the battle for the Iron Throne of Westeros continued.
Some fans were disappointed by the abrupt, seemingly uneventful second season. But viewers can look forward to an action-packed third season, which is likely to start off with a bang when it premieres.
What’s in store for House of the Dragon season 3?
Fans eager to see what happens next in House of the Dragon can read Martin’s Fire & Blood, which contains the entire plot of the series.
However, those disappointed by the lack of a major battle in the season 2 finale can take solace in the fact that, according to the book, the long-awaited battle will take place early in season 3, likely in the first or second episode. One of the reasons some fans were disappointed with the finale is because many were hoping that this battle, and another big event featured in the soon-to-be-released book, would take place in season 2.
In a special feature that aired after Sunday’s finale, showrunner Ryan Condal hinted that while season 2 was about the “fits and starts” of war, Season 3 will be “about total war.”
House of the Dragon renewed for season 3
Despite fans’ disappointment with the season 2 finale, House of the Dragon has been renewed for season 3 before the season 2 premiere, meaning the series will not be cancelled.
“George, Ryan, and the rest of our incredible executive producers, cast, and crew, have reached new heights with the phenomenal second season of `House of the Dragon,'” said HBO programming Executive Vice President Francesca Orsi in a statement. “We are in awe of the dragon-sized effort the entire team has put into the creation of a spectacular season two, with a scope and scale that is only rivaled by its heart. We could not be more thrilled to continue the story of House Targaryen and watch this team burn bright again for season three.”
The series is co-created and executive produced by Martin, who also serves as co-creator, showrunner and executive producer. Producer Ryan Condal will oversee.
When does House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere on HBO?
There is no set premiere date for House of the Dragon Season 3 on HBO.
But on Monday, Condal confirmed that production on this season will begin in early 2025, Variety reported. After the long wait between seasons 1 and 2, fans shouldn’t expect to see season 3 until 2026. Since production on season 2 began in April 2023 and premiered in June 2024, this schedule suggests that season 3 could resume in the summer of 2026.
Meanwhile, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”, a prequel series to Game of Thrones, is scheduled to air on HBO in 2025. It is based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg and follows the adventures of a knight named Ser Duncan the Great and Prince Aegon Targaryen. A short teaser for the show was released on Sunday.
How many seasons will House of the Dragon have?
During a press conference on Monday, Condal spoke about how many seasons House of the Dragon will run for. I think it’s four,” he said, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Martin previously said he expects House of the Dragon to run for at least four seasons.
“It is going to take four full seasons of 10 episodes each to do justice to the Dance of the Dragons, from start to finish,” the author wrote on his blog in 2022. In January, Martin also said he had been discussing the “third and fourth seasons” with Condal and the show’s writers.
In a 2023 interview with Deadline, Orsi said the series was unlikely to get “any less than four,” hinting that “could be more.”
Will there be any new characters in House of the Dragon Season 3?
One of the biggest questions for book readers throughout the second season was when, or if, Nettles would appear on the show.
In Fire and Blood, Nettles is a fan-favorite character who appears during the “Dragon Seed” storyline, which introduces many new dragon riders. Described in the books as a “little brown girl” who grew up homeless, she was nowhere to be seen in season 2. The events of Sunday’s finale strongly suggested that Nettles was removed from the series, with part of her story instead being given to Daemon’s daughter, Rayna.
However, one character expected to appear in season 3 is Daeron, another son of Aristian. He was off-screen throughout the series, but was mentioned in season 2, and his dragon Tessarion was seen at the end of the finale, suggesting that his proper appearance is imminent. Casting for Deron has yet to be announced.
How to watch House of the Dragon Season 2 on HBO and Max
The Emmy Award-winning series airs on HBO. The first two seasons of the series are also available to stream in their entirety on HBO’s streaming platform, Max.
‘House of the Dragon’ cast members: Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, more
Read on for the cast of “House of the Dragon” Season 2 and their characters:
- Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
- Olivia Cooke as adult Alicent Hightower
- Emma D’Arcy as adult Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen
- Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
- Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
- Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
- Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon
- Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
- Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
- Phia Saban as Halaena Targaryen
- Jefferson Hall as Tyland and Jason Lannister
- Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
- Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle
- Elliott and Luke Tittensor as Erryk and Arryk Cargyll
- Bobby the dog