There may not be an Iron Throne in the upcoming Game of Thrones sequel series starring Kit Harington as Jon Snow, but the iconic seat is still prominently on display in the prequel series House of the Dragon. Set 200 years before the events of its parent series, House of the Dragon follows the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, including many familiar locations and elements from the original series but with an all-new cast of characters. Of course, that includes the Iron Throne. Empire Magazine has exclusively debuted the newest House of the Dragon image and it features the Iron Throne, though this time, it's surrounded by a plethora of swords. Speaking with Empire, co-showrunner Ryan Condal, who serves as co-showrunner alongside Miguel Sapochnik, explained the different appearance of the area surrounding the Iron Throne in the prequel series.
"It’s a time of greater decadence and influence. That’s why the Iron Throne is dressed up so much grander. This particular story sees the Targaryens at the very apex of their wealth and power. I think that’s a fascinating story to tell.”
House of the Dragon Offers Something New for Game of Thrones Fans
Emma D'Arcy is part of the new show's ensemble cast with her role as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. The actor also teased what fans can expect with the first Game of Thrones spinoff series. D'Arcy suggests that the prequel is a "different animal" that won't feel like a mere retread of the original show.
“Fundamentally, House of the Dragon is a different animal. I think we’d be really naive if we tried to mimic or emulate Game of Thrones. I think the thing that’s distinct, and something I love about this season, is that it’s really rooted in the home. It’s domestic, it’s psychological, it’s interpersonal, it’s familial.”
Olivia Cooke, who plays Rhaenyra's longtime friend Alicent Hightower, also explained how the prequel series has a heavy focus specifically on House Targaryen. While there are some differences, Cookie also teases that what the new show will have in common with its predecessor is that it will be just as entertaining to watch for fans.
“It feels more intensely focused on one extended family, rather than many other families. It’s much more nuclear than the other TV show, but still incredibly thrilling and intense and all the things we were excited about when we watched Game of Thrones.”
It won't be much longer that fans will have to wait to see the 10-episode first season of House of the Dragon. The Game of Thrones prequel series is set to premiere on HBO on Aug. 21, 2022, and it will be made available for streaming on HBO Max. Every episode of Game of Thrones is also on the streaming platform.