For better or for worse, there has been a major shakeup to the creative team of the Game of Thrones spinoff series House of the Dragon. Per The Hollywood Reporter, it has been reported that Miguel Sapochnik, who served as a director and co-showrunner of the first season alongside Ryan Condal, is leaving the series in that role. He will remain on board as an executive producer and has signed a new deal with HBO to develop new projects, but creatively, his time on House of the Dragon is said to be over.
Word is Condal will be serving as the sole showrunner starting with season 2. As with the first season, he will be consulting with original author George R. R. Martin to help guide the story. Sapochnik may also have some ideas that will be used in the second season, as it has previously been reported that he and Condal had already mapped out season 2.
In a statement concerning his exit, Sapochnik said:
“Working within the Thrones universe for the past few years has been an honor and a privilege, especially spending the last two with the amazing cast and crew of House of the Dragon. I am so proud of what we accomplished with season 1 and overjoyed by the enthusiastic reaction of our viewers. It was incredibly tough to decide to move on, but I know that it is the right choice for me, personally and professionally. As I do so, though, I am deeply comforted to know that Alan will be joining the series. He’s someone I’ve known and respected for a long time, and I believe this precious series could not be in safer hands. I am so glad to remain a part of the HBO and House of the Dragon family and, of course, I wish Ryan and his team success and all the best with season 2 and beyond.”
The House of the Dragon Team Wishes Him Well
While Condal will continue as sole showrunner, it's also been reported that Alan Taylor will step in as an executive producer and director of multiple episodes. Taylor, who previously worked on Game of Thrones, has also addressed this change in a statement of his own.
“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be back at HBO, immersing myself in the world of the Targaryens, I look forward to working closely with Ryan as House of the Dragon grows into its second season. Ryan, Miguel and George have launched an extraordinary story, in a rich and fascinating world. Returning to Westeros will be a huge undertaking and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
An additional statement from HBO reads:
"Miguel Sapochnik has done amazing work on the first season of House of the Dragon, establishing its signature look and feel. This series simply could not have come together the way it did without him. While we would have loved to have Miguel continue in the same role, we are thrilled to have his ongoing collaboration in this new creative capacity. Looking forward, we’ve had a decades-long relationship with Alan Taylor, and we are delighted to have him join Ryan and rest the talented team.”
Despite the issues that coming with losing a co-showrunner, the future looks very bright for House of the Dragon. The series broke records when it debuted its premiere episode, quickly prompting HBO to order a second season. The second episode drew even higher viewership, suggesting that word of mouth has brought in more viewers eager to give the spinoff a shot. As of now, season 2 doesn't have a premiere date, but you can see the first two episodes on HBO Max. New episodes debut on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday nights.