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The anticipated first-look into Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon has arrived

Official photos released by HBO have given fans a glimpse into the lives of the Targaryens in a spinoff of the record-smashing series.

Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow. Picture: Supplied/ Foxtel
Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow. Picture: Supplied/ Foxtel

Fans have been given a glimpse into the lives of the Targaryens 300 years before the events in Game of Thrones took place with the unveiling of the first official photos of the series’s prequel, House of the Dragon.

The highly anticipated look into the making of the spin off, which tells the story of House Targaryen and the Targaryen civil war, known as the “Dance on Dragons”, featured the family’s signature platinum blonde hair and the ancestors of the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).

Production on the 10-part series was announced in April and is based on George R.R Martin’s book “Fire & Blood”. Ryan Condal is co-creating the show with Martin and Vince Gerardis. He is also co-showrunner alongside Miguel Sapochnik.

The photos, released on to the House of the Dragon’s official Twitter account on Thursday, show Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen being played by Emma D’Arcy and Prince Daemon Targaryen, played by Crown star, Matt Smith.

In a statement released by HBO, Rhaenyra is “the king’s first-born child, she is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider” while Daemon Targaryen, the brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne, is “a peerless warrior and a dragonrider” who “possesses the true blood of the dragon.”

“Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man,” the statement continued.

Other members of the cast include Steve Toussaint and Olivia Cooke who play Lord Corlys Velaryon, or the Sea Snake, and Alicent Hightower respectively, while Rhys Ifans picked up the role as Otto Hightower.

According to HBO’s character description, Alicent is “close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace and a keen political acumen.”

Otto, the Hand of the King, is described as “loyally and faithfully” serving “both his king and his realm”.

“As the Hand sees it, the greatest threat to the realm is the king’s brother, Daemon, and his position as heir to the throne,” the network said.

Also starring are Paddy Considine, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno and Fabien Frankel.

House of the Dragon will premiere on Foxtel in Australia in 2022.

Imogen Reid
Imogen ReidJournalist

Imogen Reid is a journalist and digital producer who began her career at The Australian as a cadet in 2019 after moving from a reporting role at news.com.au. She has covered varied assignments including hard news, lifestyle and travel. Most recently she has been focused on driving engagement across The Australian’s multiple digital products.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/hero/the-anticipated-firstlook-into-game-of-thrones-prequel-house-of-the-dragon-has-arrived/news-story/e3254326774e9c50296c5604711203f2