Warning: SPOILERS for House of the Dragon Season 1Time jumps in House of the Dragon will result in major characters being recast with older actors, and this includes Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock) and Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey). Unlike Game of Thrones, which followed a more linear timeline, House of the Dragon has a more ambitious scope that will span roughly 28 years of Westeros history. As a result, the younger versions of certain characters will be replaced by older actors.
House of the Dragon's overall timeline goes from 101 AC to 131 AC. The series began with a flashback to the Great Council that chose Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) as the next in line to the Iron Throne, and then episode 1 jumped to 112 AC, in the 9th year of Viserys' reign. His daughter and named heir, Rhaenyra, was about 14 years old in episode 1. House of the Dragon episode 2 was set 6 months after episode 1, but each coming episode will leap forward even further. House of the Dragon episode 3 takes place about 3 years after episode 2. Because of the rapid time progression, Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, who were cast for their youthful looks, won't be able to play the adult versions of Rhaenyra and Alicent in the second half of House of the Dragon season 1. Alcock and Carey will depart the series after House of the Dragon episode 5.
Naturally, House of the Dragon's recasting presents an issue to viewers who have quickly grown attached to the series' two young female leads. Many fans feel that Alcock's portrayal of Rhaenyra, especially, has been the best part of House of the Dragon. Unlike how in Game of Thrones, viewers got to watch the Stark children grow up year by year, it's disappointing that the same thing won't happen in House of the Dragon. Yet the time jumps were built into House of the Dragon from inception, and so was the fact that different actors will play some characters as they age up throughout the story. Here are the four characters who will be recast in House of the Dragon season 1.
Rhaenyra Targaryen: Emma D'Arcy Will Replace Milly Alcock
Emma D'Arcy will take over the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen from Milly Alcock. D'Arcy's version of Rhaenyra will be about 30 years old, and she will continue to be one of House of the Dragon's centerpiece characters when the Targaryen civil war dubbed the Dance of the Dragon begins. A great deal will happen to Rhaenyra by the time she reaches adulthood; the princess will marry and have children of her own. When her father, King Viserys, dies, Rhaenyra will press her claim to the Iron Throne as Viserys' named heir, only to find her former friend Alicent Hightower has installed her own son, Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) as the next King. This is what instigates the Dance of the Dragons.
Alicent Hightower: Olivia Cooke Will Replace Emily Carey
Emily Carey will soon be replaced by Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower. When King Viserys refused to marry 12-year-old Laena Velaryon (Nova Fouellis-Mose) in House of the Dragon episode 2, he instead named Alicent, who is the same age as his daughter Rhaenyra, as his wife. Carey will continue to play Alicent through the birth of Aegon, her son with Viserys, but by the time her character is 30, Cooke will take over the role. Hopefully, Cooke and Emma D'Arcy have the same chemistry as adults as Carey had with Milly Alcock as the teenage Alicent and Rhaenyra.
Laena Velaryon: Nanna Blondell Will Replace Nova Fouellis-Mose
Laena Velaryon was introduced in House of the Dragon episode 2, and Viserys infamously rejected a marriage match with Lady Laena because "She's twelve!" But going forward from House of the Dragon episode 3, young Nova Fouellis-Mose is replaced as Laena by Nanna Blondell. Lady Laena is the eldest daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), who is also known as "The Queen Who Never Was." The Velaryons are not only the richest family in Westeros, but they control the most powerful navy in the Seven Kingdoms. Laena is also a dragon rider and will claim the largest dragon alive, Vhagar, as her mount.
Laenor Velaryon: John MacMillan Will Replace Theo Nate
Laenor Velaryon is the son of Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys, and he is the younger brother of Laena. Laenor is introduced in House of the Dragon episode 3 during the Velaryons and Prince Daemon Targaryen's (Matt Smith) campaign to rid the Stepstones of the Crabfeeder (Daniel Scott-Smith). However, as House of the Dragon continues, the teenage Laenor played by Theo Nate will be replaced by John MacMillan. Laenor Velaryon is also a dragon rider, and he will claim Seasmoke as his mount.
House of the Dragon airs Sundays @ 9pm ET on HBO and streams on HBO Max.