House Of The Dragon Season 3: Cast, Story & Everything We Know

The Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon returned for its long-awaited sophomore season in 2024, and now the HBO hit has been renewed for a third season. Based loosely on George R.R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood from 2018, the series concerns the collapse of the House Targaryen as the clan devolves into a massive civil war. Set two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon explores the events that would shape the Seven Kingdoms many years later.

Unsurprisingly, the debut season of House of the Dragon was a watershed moment for HBO with critics and viewers, especially after the disappointing finale of Game of Thrones in 2019. However, despite the prequel series' initial success, the network struggled to bring fans back to Westeros quickly enough, and House of the Dragon season 2 was mired in delays that stretched on for nearly two years. Despite that, the popularity of Martin's epic fantasy universe hasn't dulled, and HBO was quick to pick up House of the Dragon for a third season, which left the show's future in little doubt.

Related House Of The Dragon Season 3 Has To Finally Destroy A Major Daemon Targaryen Theory One of Daemon Targaryen's biggest Fire & Blood moments will likely happen in House of the Dragon season 3, and it can end a big theory about him.

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Latest News

Season 3's Filming Start Revealed

Just days after the season 2 finale, the latest news confirms the filming start date for House of the Dragon season 3. Perhaps hoping to avoid the long delays that plagued season 2's production, showrunner Ryan Condal has announced that the spinoff begins shooting its third season in early 2025. Condal also talked about the complicated storytelling that will go into the upcoming season, and advised viewers to read Martin's Fire and Blood novel to bone up on the lore of ancient Westeros.

Read Condal's other comments below:

As a showrunner you are always in a position of having to balance storytelling and resources you have available to tell that story. We are also starting to think about, what is the final destination of this series and where are we going? A combination of factors led to that re-balance. There is a tremendous amount of resources, construction, armor, costumes and visual affects needed to give the Gullet, which is arguably the second most anticipated action even to Fire and Blood, the time and the space it deserved. We are building to that event. It will happen very shortly in terms of storytelling. It will be the biggest thing to date we have pulled off. We want to have the time and space to do that at a level that will excite the fans. There are so many great events that we are already writing in season 3 as it is. This war really comes to a big head at this point in the storytelling. I mean, if you look at season 2, it’s largely a metaphor for a nuclear conflict … There’s gonna be giant moments of spectacle but real moments of surprise and character nuance that we’re very much looking forward to. Some of my favorite moments of in the book, as a reader, I’m excited to adapt as a dramatist. I invite anybody to take the off season to purchase and read Fire and Blood so you can be armed lots of information going into season 3. It’s a very tricky position in my seat, Sara Hess and I are custodians of this world. We have to render an exciting TV adaptation of this story, knowing there will be a percentage of the gigantic TV audience that has not read the book. We are constantly trying to serve both worlds.

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Is Confirmed

HBO Renewed Before Season 2's Debut

The rapidity with which HBO renewed House of the Dragon for its third season is a testament to the brand's confidence in the Game of Thrones franchise. Coming nearly a full week before season 2's debut, HBO's renewal is a vote of confidence in a sea of uncertainty regarding the George R.R. Martin epic fantasy series as a whole. Despite Game of Thrones spinoffs dropping like proverbial flies, House of the Dragon is a surefire hit that could indicate the direction of the franchise's future.

House of the Dragon season 2 concluded on August 4, 2024.

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Cast

Who Will Survive The Dance?

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Though House of the Dragon and its predecessor are known for their wanton bloodshed, the main core of important characters survived the first act of the so-called "Dance of the Dragons". This means the bulk of the ensemble is expected to return in season 3, including Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Tom Glynn-Carney as her estranged brother, Aegon. Other major figures like Matt Smith's Daemon and Olivia Cooke's Alicent Hightower will also be back.

The presumptive cast of House of the Dragon season 3 includes:

Actor House Of The Dragon Role Emma D'Arcy Rhaenyra Targaryen Tom Glynn-Carney Aegon II Targaryen Matt Smith Daemon Targaryen Rhys Ifans Otto Hightower Olivia Cooke Alicent Hightower Fabien Frankel Criston Cole Steve Toussaint Corlys Velaryon Sonoya Mizuno Mysaria Ewan Mitchell Aemond Targaryen Phia Saban Helaena Targaryen Harry Collett Jacaerys Valaryon

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Story Details

The Dance Has Only Just Begun

With it being announced that House of the Dragon season 4 will be the last, season 3 won't be the end of the story, regardless of what happens.

Though the so-called "Dance of the Dragons" began in earnest during season 2, it's clear that it has only just begun. A series of ups and downs plagued both the Greens and Blacks in the season 2 finale, and in typical George R.R. Martin fashion, more twists are expected. Rhaenyra suffered heavy losses in the first engagement, but the return of Daemon (and his army) gives her a bit more firepower. With it being announced that House of the Dragon season 4 will be the last, season 3 won't be the end of the story, regardless of what happens.