Update: Read our full House of the Dragon trailer breakdown!
A new House of the Dragon trailer reveals Matt Smith's Prince Daemon Targaryen in the Game of Thrones prequel series. The upcoming HBO show from co-creators George R.R. Martin and Ryan J. Condal, based on Martin's 2018 novel Fire & Blood, was ordered straight-to-series in October 2019. House of the Dragon season 1 will have ten episodes and premiere sometime in 2022.
Martin and Condal's new show takes place 200 years prior to the events of Game of Thrones and will focus on the Targaryen family, who at this point still sit on the Iron Throne. The show is said to depict a Targaryen civil war known as the "Dance of the Dragons," considered the beginning of the end of their long reign over Westeros. Early images have shown off a number of exciting new characters, and Martin himself revealed that House of the Dragon features 17 dragons, up significantly from Game of Thrones' already-show-stopping three.
Now, a brand new trailer from HBO Max offers a look at a number of key cast members, including Matt Smith as Prince Daemon, the younger brother to Paddy Constantine's King Viserys I. Daemon is said to be a mighty warrior and accomplished dragonrider, and will surely play a major role in the war to come. He is shown in the trailer looking very stern, and a voiceover that is likely Smith's reminds the viewer that dragons, not dreams, are what secured the Targaryen dynasty. Take a look at the trailer below:
Elsewhere in the video, fans catch a good glimpse of Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the King's firstborn daughter, as well as a shot of Constantine holding what is presumably a Valyrian steel sword. There are a few short snippets of combat, including a formal joust and a duel in some beautifully decorated armor, and a slightly longer look at a throne room very different from what Game of Thrones viewers are used to seeing. Along with the Iron Throne, which is made of swords melted long ago by dragon fire, there are several more blades sticking up haphazardly on the staircase, fanning out in a decidedly ominous display of power.
While many fans of Game of Thrones still feel the sting of the show's controversial season 8 and might be unsure if they want to return to Westeros, seeing this early footage of HBO's new series is an undeniable thrill. As a prequel, there's less need to approach the apocalyptic scope of something like the White Walkers, though a civil war between dragon-riding royals will offer no shortage of spectacle. And, with Martin himself ensuring authenticity to his storyworld, House of the Dragon season 1 could be a thrilling reminder of just how great a Game of Thrones show can be.
Source: HBO Max