A lot happened in the first season of House of the Dragon, but the war for the Iron Throne is far from over and season two is well and truly on its way.
After the great success of this first Game of Thrones spin-off series, Warner Bros. Discovery was quick to greenlight another adaptation of George RR Martin’s works. However, before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Knight Errant has time to arrive, audiences will be treated to another season of House of the Dragon, which is currently in production.
What else do we know about this return to Westeros? Here’s all the key information we currently have about House of the Dragon season two so far – but reader beware: series one spoilers lurk from here on out.
You have been warned!
When will House of the Dragon season 2 be released?
The second season of House of the Dragon premieres on Sunday, June 16th. The show will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK, and on HBO and Max in the US.
The season will consist of just eight episodes, with two episodes shorter than the first.
The show’s director, Claire Kilner, told The Hollywood Reporter: “There are eight wonderful episodes with so much happening in each episode, and sometimes we have a hard time cutting it down to an hour.
“Ryan [Condall, showrunner] The decision was to give a good opening and a good ending, and they are full of exciting and visually exciting events.”
After the first episode of the Game of Thrones spin-off proved to be a hit with audiences, a second series of episodes was officially ordered just five days later – but filming only began in April 2023.
Filming took place at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios, near London, and in Cáceres, Spain, and were completed in September 2023.
What are the House of the Dragon Season 2 reviews like?
With its return as imminent as a dragon attack, reviews for House of the Dragon season 2 have started to roll in, and so far, everyone is excited about this Game of Thrones spin-off.
Our own article called the series a “fiery triumph,” adding that this is where “the real Dance of Dragons begins.” At The Telegraph, they suggested that the return of the hit HBO series rivals anything you’re likely to find in theaters, saying its “pacing is relentless.”
The Evening Standard pointed out how Season 2 contains a lot more fights than its predecessor, while The Wrap labeled it “thoroughly compelling, expertly crafted television.”
Read the full reviews below:
Yahoo Entertainment: A Dance with Dragons truly begins with a fiery triumph (5 minute read)
The telegraph: A soaring, rip-roaring blockbuster that rivals anything at the movies (3 minute read)
Night Pattern: A roaring, fiery return to the world of Game of Thrones (3 minute read)
The wrap: War makes the ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel even better (5 minute read)
Is there a trailer for House of the Dragon season 2?
It’s time to choose a side.
Not one, but two new trailers for House of the Dragon Season 2 were released in March 2024, each detailing an impending war from opposing sides.
In the black trailer, we catch a glimpse of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen preparing for battle…
Meanwhile, the green trailer reunited us with Alicent Hightower as she prepares to embark on a path of violence.
HBO and Sky released the first trailer for House of the Dragon season 2 in December 2023, and it looks like an all-out war is on the horizon.
Watch below.
Another trailer for the series was revealed in May, ahead of the show’s June premiere, which teased the battle between Greens and Blacks in even more detail.
What happened in House of the Dragon season 1?
The first season of House of the Dragon saw a slowly disintegrating King Viserys (Paddy Considine) try his best to keep his warrior family together, while his rebellious daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and her brother Daemon (Matt Smith) plotted to break up his home with a cunning, incestuous plan.
Meanwhile, tensions grew between Rhaenyra and her childhood friend and Queen of King Viserys, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and with whispering groups each trying to influence the situation in their favor, things quickly came to a head following the death of Viserys.
The final moments of the show’s first series saw Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys and her young dragon get chewed out of the sky by the sadistic Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and whether by intention or accident, its repercussions are sure to be drastic.
“I think the direction this is going is leading to civil war,” said Graham McTavish, also known as Ser Harrold Westerling. told the Metro last year, teasing what the show’s future holds.
“Civil war is that big thing that countries indulge in when they have no one left to fight, they seem to like fighting each other just to keep their hand, and this is no different.
“They’ve had peace for a long, long time and all of a sudden they’re literally destroying the kingdom from within and that’s what makes it so interesting, so I would expect more of that – more division, more side-taking.”
Time will tell what chaos House of The Dragon season two has up its sleeve.
Who is in the cast of House of the Dragon season 2?
Fans of the show’s first outing will be pleased to see many of their favorite characters returning for round two. These include Smith’s Prince Daemon Targaryen and D’Arcy’s Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, Cooke’s Queen Alicent Hightower, Eve Best’s Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, and Rhys Iffans’ Ser Otto Hightower.
Steve Toussaint’s Lord Corlys Velaryon, Fabien Frankel’s Ser Criston Cole, Mitchell’s Prince Aemond Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Carney’s King Aegon II Targaryen, and Sonoya Mizuno’s Mysaria will also return.
Additionally, first series regulars Bethany Antonia, Harry Collett, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, Phoebe Campbell and Matthew Needham have also been confirmed to make an appearance.
Meanwhile, the show welcomes newcomers Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong and Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull.
Due to the events of last season, Considine’s King Viserys is not expected to appear during the season’s eight episodes unless the creators have a sneaky flashback planned.
House of the Dragon Season 2 will be released on Sunday, June 16
