HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon is currently filming in England, and new production photos have provided a first look at two important members of the Targaryen royal family.
Matt Smith, best known as the Eleventh Doctor on Doctor Who, will play Prince Daemon Targaryen. As reported by the UK news outlet Daily Mail, Smith was seen walking on a beach in Cornwall with Emma D'Arcy, who will play his character's betrothed Rhaenyra Targaryen. Both were dressed for the parts in the images, wearing the House Targaryen colors of black and red and showing off platinum blonde locks.
The production images can be seen here. Other photos in the collection show the production team and the seaside location, near the sites where other scenes from the show, featuring a different noble house of Westeros, were recently seen being filmed.
The main cast for House of the Dragon was officially announced on Monday, including Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke and Steve Toussaint in addition to Smith and D'Arcy.
House of the Dragon will highlight the early days of House Targaryen, involving some of the ancestors of Daenerys Stormborn of Game of Thrones, as it takes place hundreds of years before the original series. Its plot is based on Fire & Blood, Martin's collection of stories and historical records related to House Targaryen.
The new images highlight the ancestral connection that Daemon and Rhaenyra have with Daenerys, as their extreme light blond hair is a signature trait of the Targaryen family strengthened by generations of incestuous marriage. The new series looks to be staying true to this element of the story, with Daemon and Rhaenyra related by blood as well as romantically involved.
Created by George R.R. Martin, Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal, House of the Dragon stars Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen, Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower and Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole. The series is expected to premiere on HBO and HBO Max in 2022.
Source: Daily Mail UK, ScreenRant