House of the Dragon is HBO’s prequel series to Game of Thrones. It introduces viewers to the Targaryen family as they rule Westeros 200 years prior to the birth of Daenerys Targaryen.
The new series is based on George R. Martin’s book Fire and Blood. It depicts the brutal civil conflict that takes place over the Iron Throne. House of the Dragon will be fast-forwarding and rewinding time to give context as to why the Targaryen are at war with each other.
We will also see the main protagonists of the series while they are young and older. It is likely that Aegon’s Conquest will be the series’ starting point. We may find out what Aegon was motivated by: ambition, political shrewdness, or something else, such as a prophecy.
House of the Dragon, like its predecessor, will likely be filled with drama, conspiracy and questionable relationships among its characters as the season progresses. But here’s what we do know about the main cast.
House of the Dragon cast in Game of Thrones prequel
1. Paddy Considine as King Viserys
Paddy Considine plays the role of Targaryen patriarch called “King Viserys”. King Viserys is the kind-hearted king of the Seven Kingdoms. Paddy Considine inherited the Iron Throne as a gift from his grandfather King Jaehaerys. His 50-year reign was marked by peace and prosperity. There is tension around Viserys’ ascension and his successor, which could cause significant conflict.
Considine is well-known for his roles in movies such as 24 Hour Party Peoples, Cinderella Mans, Hot Fuzz and The Death of Stalin. He has also appeared on the small screen in Channel 4’s Red Riding and ITV’s The Suspicions Of Mr Whicher.
2. Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
Emma D’Arcy plays the role of adult Princess Rhaenyra Tarrayen. You may have seen Emma D’Arcy in the Prime Video series “Truth Seekers”, and the Netflix original “Wanderlust.”
Princess Rhaenyra, the daughter of King Viserys is aspiring to be the first queen in the Seven Kingdoms after her father’s death. Tradition dictates that only males can rule so it may be difficult to convince the Lords Westeros to support this idea. Rhaenyra is a close friend to Lady Alicent Hightower and begins the series. However, the politics of the day will put their friendship under strain.
3. Olivia Cooke as Lady Alicent Hightower
Olivia Cooke plays the adult role of Lady Alicent Hightower who is the daughter of Ser Otto Hightower. She grew up in the royal household with her father, who was the Hand to the King. This is where she formed a strong friendship and lasting friendship with Princess Rhaenyra. This bond will be tested over the coming years and Alicent may have the determination to win the game of thrones.
Olivia Cooke has played many roles in horror and drama films as well as TV series, including Bates Motel and Ouija, Thoroughbreds and Sound of Metal.
4. Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Eve Best appears as the wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, in the House of Dragon. She almost became the first Targaryen Queen after the death of the Old King Jaehaerys Targaryen, but the Great Council chose her younger cousin, Viserys, as his successor instead.
Eve Best is recognized for her outstanding performances in some popular Television shows and movies. Nurse Jackie, Fate: The Winx Saga, Life in Quares, Some You Love, and The Honourable Woman are some of those popular shows.
5. Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
The Japanese-British actress plays the character “Mysaria’” as she appears in House of Dragon. Mysaria is a former prostitute and dancer who has been an escaped slave and trafficked, but she is the most trusted friend and lover of Daemon Targaryen, Prince Daemon’s son. Mysaria was at King’s Landing alongside Rhaenyra at the moment of the riots during which the mob killed dragons. Mysaria was also known as the whisperers’ lover by the blacks.
Sonoya Mizuno is well-known in the series Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Devs. You might also recognize Mizuno in her role in the Netflix series Maniac.
6. Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
Rhys Ifans appears as Otto Hightower in the House of Dragon. Otto Hightower is the Hand of the King and is a servant alongside the King of Old Jaehaerys I as well as the King Viserys in their role as the most reliable advisers. Otto considers Prince Daemon’s need to be a power-holder as an attack on the kingdom and makes use of the position of his seniority to alter King Viserys’ opinion about his son.
Rhys Ifans is famously known for his performance in well-known movies such as Harry Potter, The Amazing Spider-Man, Spiderman: No Way Home, The King’s Man and many more. Also, he is a star of television shows like Berlin Station, Elementary, Neverland and many more.
7. Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
The most famous seafarer in Westeros’s history is the sea serpent also known as Lord Corlys Varyon. The actor in the cast is Steve Toussaint here. Lord Corlys Velaryon transformed his home into a formidable empire that has a wealth level that is higher than the Lannisters. He also has the biggest naval force in all of the globe. Similar to the Targaryens house, House Velaryon comes from Valyria. Although the Velaryons might not have dragons on their side, their sea-faring abilities are formidable foes and formidable allies.
Steve Toussaint brings extensive filmography to his role, including in films such as Judge Dredd and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Toussaint is also a part of Pine Gap, an Australian Netflix program Pine Gap with young Princess Rhaenyra actress Milly Alcock.
Conclusion
Along with such sparkling star casts, we were able to witness some of the intrigue and scheming that made Game of Thrones so popular. In episode 2, we got to see the pick and roll of House Targaryen. Let’s see what episode 3 comes with on Sunday night after airing on HBO. Episode 3 will air on HBO at 9 p.m. PT/ET and on HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET.
