Matt Smith, who will play in the upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff “House of the Dragon”, is optimistic that the series will help the franchise grow. “House of the Dragon”, created by showrunner Ryan Condal and co-showrunner Miguel Sapcochnik, will serve as a precursor to HBO’s game-changing fantasy Game of Thrones, which is based on George R.R. Martin’s unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire series. House of the Dragon is based on Martin’s 2018 novel Fire & Blood, which chronicles the Targaryen dynasty’s history.
HBO has ordered “House of the Dragon” straight to series after the disputed Game of Thrones conclusion in 2019 and the scrapped The Long Night spinoff. The series is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and follows House Targaryen during the Dance of Dragons, a civil war in Westeros. Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One), Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Graham McTavish, Steve Toussaint, Sonoya Mizuno, Ryan Corr, Jefferson Hall, Bill Paterson, and Eve Best star alongside Smith in “House of the Dragon”. The 10-episode first season began filming in April 2021 in the United Kingdom, with certain elements shot in Spain, California, and Portugal and concluded in February 2022.
Smith discussed the Game of Thrones franchise in an exclusive interview with Screen Rant. He talked about what it’s like to be a part of that universe, what it’s like to be surrounded by all those blonde wigs, and his ambitions for “House of the Dragon”. The 39-year-old actor was initially asked if blondes have more fun. Here’s what he had to say:
“Well, apparently not, actually. They just go to war a lot and fight and ride around on dragons. Who knows? I’ve not seen anything. It’s a big challenge for all of us that have taken it on. There’s such a huge fandom that surrounds it, and rightly so. It left a footprint, really, in many ways and it will be hard to repeat that. So, let’s hope it sort of evolves into something different.”
Smith has become one of the most popular actors in the UK since taking over for David Tennant in Doctor Who. He’s since gone on to star in movies and television shows like Netflix’s The Crown and Edgar Wright’s Last Night In Soho (2021). Smith plays Daemon, the heir presumptive to the Iron Throne and younger brother of King Viserys, following in the Targaryen footsteps of Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys and Kit Harington’s Jon (Considine). Despite the fact that Smith has yet to view a single frame of the next series, Martin has given his blessing to all ten episodes.
The nearly universally negative response to Game of Thrones last season has dampened enthusiasm while also raising expectations for any of HBO’s upcoming spinoffs. Tales of Dunk and Egg, 9 Voyages, Flea Bottom, and 10,000 Ships are among the productions in development. The success of “House of the Dragon” will determine the fate of Westeros on HBO Max. The series will have to breathe new life into the franchise while avoiding being a carbon copy of Game of Thrones. It will also have to compete with Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is another massive fantasy prequel. Thankfully, Martin appears to be extensively involved with the series, which also benefits from the completed source material, which cannot be true for the main series’ final seasons. The release date for “House of the Dragon” is unknown, although it is expected to air later this year.