House of the Dragon is set to showcase Westeros' royal Targaryen family on an unprecedented scale. While the 200-years-prior Game of Thrones prequel series will also feature an upgraded version of the famed Iron Throne, it seems that the actor who plays the king doesn't like people sitting in his chair.
Paddy Considine, portrayer of the regal ruler King Viserys I Targaryen on the series, is purportedly territorial when it comes to the pointy seat of power, as his co-stars tell THR. In fact, it sounds as if the English actor, known for TV roles on Peaky Blinders and The Outsider, might have bordered on taking the method approach to the role. “Paddy was so possessive,” Eve Best, who plays Rhaenys Velaryon, said. Another member of the Velaryon family cast in Steve Toussaint, who plays Rhaenys' husband, Corlys Velaryon, added, "It was like it was his. At one point I said to him — because my character has a throne too, but it’s nowhere near like that — I said, ‘You can sit on mine if I can sit on —’ and he was like, ‘Nah.'"
Olivia Cooke, who plays the king's young wife, Alicent Hightower, likely spent more time on the set with Considine than the others, and provides insight on the situation. "As soon as I saw the Iron Throne in rehearsals, I ran straight up to it and plonked my ass on it," Cooke says. "But on set, Paddy was quite territorial, so when he wasn’t looking I’d do a quick [sit]. And although he wasn’t specifically scolding them, "It was just an aura, just a feeling that you got like, ‘OK, maybe don’t go up.'"
The character of King Viserys may rule Westeros with the might of armies and the fire of dragons, but, true to the original show's High Valyrian motto, "Valar Morghulis" (all men must die), the inherent impermanence of that power will become the center of House of the Dragons' ensuing conflicts. While those familiar with the quasi-historical avenues of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire literary lore know that the events depicted on the prequel will culminate in an intra-Targaryen civil war for the Iron Throne called the Dance of the Dragons, the show's adapted onscreen fate of Considine's King Viserys remains unknown. Consequently, the actor might simply want to maximize the amount of time he'll get to have on that seat for reasons potentially ominous to his character.
When it comes to the Iron Throne itself, viewers can expect the iconic chair to manifest in a more grandiose manner. That's because the version fans remember from Game of Thrones -- a simple piece of furniture with a few swords sticking out of its back -- will pale in comparison to the prequel's rendition, which bears a closer resemblance to Martin's description of an intimidating seat covered in thousands of swords that towers above the throne room in King's Landing's the Red Keep. Of course, it's not an exact resemblance to Martin's version, which would be logistically dangerous for the cast and crew.
House of the Dragon is scheduled to debut on HBO on August 21.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter