House of the Dragon star Matt Smith recently revealed that he questioned the upcoming HBO show's sex scenes.
Smith recalled grappling with the sheer volume of simulated sex in the Game of Thrones spinoff during an interview with Rolling Stone. "You do find yourself asking, 'Do we need another sex scene?'" he said. "And they're like, 'Yeah, we do.' I guess you have to ask yourself: 'What are you doing? Are you representing the books, or are you diluting the books to represent the time [we're living in]?' And I actually think it's your job to represent the books truthfully and honestly, as they were written."
The English actor's comments are somewhat at odds with co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik's previous assertion that House of the Dragon's approach to sex and violence will differ to that of the original series. Sapochnick said that the spinoff will dial back both of these elements, while also insisting that it won't "shy away" from recreating the intense subject matter of series co-creator George R.R. Martin's original novel, Fire & Blood, either. "You can't ignore the violence that was perpetrated on women by men in that time. It shouldn't be downplayed and it shouldn't be glorified," he said.
House of the Dragon Star Hasn't Read The Book
Not everyone associated with the production is as beholden to the source material as Sapochnick, however. Notably, Smith recently admitted he hasn't read Fire & Blood, citing its considerable length as his excuse for starting but yet finishing the 2018 tome. The star was nevertheless effusive in his praise of Martin's storytelling skill, which he described as House of the Dragon's major advantage over other fantasy shows. "That's one thing we've got going for us: we're not just plucking fantasy out of thin air," he said. "It comes from the mind of George, who's really clever, and has created a world that feels like it's translatable."
Smith also lauded Martin for creating a cast of characters who are "really, really interesting," including his own role, Prince Daemon Targaryen. A new image of Daemon Targaryen recently surfaced online which spotlighted the fabled warrior and dragonrider's ornate armor. Notable details worked into the armor's design include a dragon-inspired helmet and pauldrons, as well as an intricate motif etched into the chestplate also based on the fire-breathing creatures. The protective outfit is accessorized with a flowing gold cape, further underscoring Prince Daemon's royal heritage.
House of the Dragon arrives on HBO and HBO Max on Aug. 21.
Source: Rolling Stone