House of the Dragon (2022 — 2024)

House of the Dragon (2022–2024), an American fantasy drama on HBO, was created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal as a prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019). It is the second show in the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise, with Condal and Miguel Sapochnik serving as showrunners for the first season. Drawing from Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood, the series is set approximately 100 years after the Targaryen Conquest that united the Seven Kingdoms, nearly 200 years prior to the events of Game of Thrones, and 172 years before Daenerys Targaryen’s birth. With an ensemble cast, it delves into the events preceding House Targaryen’s downfall, highlighting a fierce battle for succession known as the ‘Dance of Dragons’.

In October 2019, House of the Dragon received a straight-to-series order. Casting began in July 2020 and principal photography started in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. The series premiered on August 21, 2022, consisting of ten episodes for its first season. Just five days later, it was renewed for a second season. Showrunner Sapochnik left after the first season, leaving Condal as sole showrunner for the upcoming second season set to debut in mid-2024. Upon its premiere, the first season of the series received highly positive reviews for its character development, visual effects, writing, Ramin Djawadi’s score, and performances. However, some critiques were made towards the pacing and dark lighting in certain scenes.