House of the Dragon Season 2: All We Know

Westeros fans, the first details of House of the Dragon Season 2 are finally here: HBO recently dropped the first trailer and plot details for the hotly anticipated new set of episodes, and as you’d hope we’ll be getting more political fighting, war and, obviously, dragons.

We’ve still got a little while until it airs in the summer of next year, but it won’t be long until Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Alicent (Olivia Cooke), Daemon (Matt Smith) and more are on screens again.

What do we know about House of the Dragon Season 2 so far?

It’ll be close to two years since the first season of House of the Dragon was last on HBO when the new season arrives next summer, partly due to strikes and the high budget production. We’ll be plunged straight back into the world of GOT, and there are plenty of plot threads still to develop and resolve from Season 1 of the fantasy prequel.

Not least is the events of the final episode, in which Queen Rhaenyra’s son, Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) is killed. Rhaenyra is left grieving, and season 2 will see her out for revenge and retribution against Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) who caused her son’s death at the hands of a dragon in one of Season 1’s biggest set pieces. Meanwhile, the threat of war is looming over our cast, with the huge conflict dubbed “Dance of the Dragons” and featured in George R. R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood set to erupt.

Is there a trailer?

‌Yes- HBO finally gave a first glimpse at Season 2 through a short teaser trailer, that is brief but shows plenty of action, with all the sword swinging, fire and brooding stares that you’d want. There’s a clear sense that the land is headed for a brutal and bloody civil war: “There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin, and no war so bloody as a war between dragons” says Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) to her cousin Rhaenyra. As to who will remain on the Iron Throne (currently occupied by Aegon II after the death of King Viserys), no guarantee that will back whom as Westeros’ most powerful figures plot to take control.

‌Is anyone new joining the cast, and when does it release?

Season 2 will see the ever-expanding roster of Westeros characters include Ser Gwayn Hightower (Freddie Fox), Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale), Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) and Alyn of Hull (Abubakar) join the cast, alongside the returning faces of D’Arcy, Cooke, Smith, Rhys Ifans, Ewan Mitchell, Eve Best, Tom Glynn-Carney and more. House of Dragon will arrive on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK in the early summer of 2024. You can watch the trailer below.

‌Meanwhile, maligned Game of Thrones writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’ new show 3 Body Problem arrives on Netflix next year.