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Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10, and George R.R. Martin's book, Fire & Blood.

Here's what to know about House of the Dragon season 2, including what to expect from its story and when it might be released. Coming three years after the controversial Game of Thrones ending, House of the Dragon has marked a return to form for stories set in Westeros. It has generally received strong reviews and praise from critics and audiences alike, and been a huge hit for HBO in the ratings as well. Season 1 may have put any lingering doubts to rest, but the onus is now on what the future looks like, as that was only the beginning.

House of the Dragon season 2 will be expected to push things even further, especially following on from the dramatic season 1 ending. After Aegon and Rhaenyra were both crowned, and Aemond killed Lucerys just outside of Storm's End, then civil war is on the horizon and things are only going to get bigger and bloodier going forward. The Game of Thrones spinoff is very much set up for the long haul and should run for a good few years, so here's a breakdown of what's known as far about House of the Dragon season 2.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Renewal

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Unsurprisingly, House of the Dragon season 2 was renewed by HBO shortly after the season 1 premiere, which set viewing records for the network. Game of Thrones was one of the biggest TV shows of all time and, despite the backlash to season 8, it makes sense that House of the Dragon would be another hit. HBO hasn't renewed the show beyond season 2 yet, nor confirmed how many episodes it will be - though another season of 10 installments seems a safe bet. George R.R. Martin believes House of the Dragon needs four seasons of 10 episodes each to tell this story, and it wouldn't be a shock if he got his wish.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Cast: Who Will Return?

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House of the Dragon season 2's cast should bring back most of the actors involved in season 1. After several time jumps, House of the Dragon seems set with its adult cast, and so all the characters still alive are likely to return. That will mean the show is once again led by Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, as well as an increased focus on their children as well. Based on season 1, then the main cast of season 2 will look like this:

• Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
• Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
• Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
• Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole
• Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen
• Steve Toussain as Corlys Velaryon
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
• Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
• Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
• Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
• Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon
• Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
• Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
• Graham McTavish as Harrold Westerling
• Matthew Needham as Larys Strong

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Crew: Behind-The-Scenes Changes

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Most of the cast may be back, but there will be one big change for the show, as co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik won't return for House of the Dragon season 2. Sapochnik, who directed many Game of Thrones episodes such as "Battle of the Bastards" and "The Winds of Winter", helmed three installments of House of the Dragon season 1: episode 1, "The Heirs of the Dragon," episode 6, "The Princess and the Queen," and episode 7, "Driftmark." Despite Sapochnik's exit from House of the Dragon, his co-showrunner Ryan Condal will be back. Another Game of Thrones veteran, director Alan Taylor (whose episodes include season 1's "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood") will also be involved as executive producer and director for several episodes.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Story: What Season 1 Set Up

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House of the Dragon season 2's story should very much continue right where season 1 leaves off, which is to say: war. With Aegon and Rhaenyra declaring themselves as King and Queen, respectively, then the battle for the Iron Throne is truly on. Similarly, after Aemond's actions at Storm's End, then Rhaenyra and Daemon will be even more driven for revenge, which should be where season.2 begins. After much of season 1 was setting the stage, the Dance of the Dragons can fully begin in season 2. That will mean more battles, more political scheming, and Westeros being divided in two as the warring factions attempt to win support.

Whereas season 1 covered several decades, the timeline of the Dance of the Dragons is more condensed, spanning just a couple of years. That will mean fewer time jumps, but there's still a lot to fit in, as there'll be betrayals, plots, and, of course, deaths and dragons. House of the Dragon season 2 will likely expand further beyond King's Landing and Dragonstone, not least with Jacaerys heading off to the Vale of Arryn and Winterfell. It can show just how fully this divides the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, and bring other characters and houses into the fold some more.

House Of The Dragon Season 2: New Characters To Expect

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As well as plenty of returning faces, there should also be several new characters in House of the Dragon season 2. Among these will be Cregan Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, with whom Jace is going to meet at Winterfell. Similarly, Jace will also be meeting Jeyne Arryn, Lady of the Eyrie and Warden of the East. Meanwhile, Daemon's discussion of dragons - and singing to Vermithor - should mean new dragonriders in House of the Dragon season 2: this will likely include Hugh Hammer, a blacksmith's bastard who claims Vermithor; Ulf White, a man-at-arms who claims Silverwing; and Nettles, a young bastard girl who is able to tame the wild dragon Sheepstealer and becomes a close companion of Daemon.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Release Date Prediction

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House of the Dragon season 2 is expected to begin filming in Spring 2023 at the latest, with Spanish newspaper Hoy (via Watchers on the Wall) reporting production will return to Cáceres (which was used for King's Landing in season 1) around April and May. It's possible filming will begin before then, however, with the UK's Leavesden Studios used to film much of season 1. Still, with production likely lasting until at least halfway through 2023, it seems likely House of the Dragon season 2's release date will be sometime in 2024.

As well as filming, there will be a long post-production (especially as season 2 should have bigger battles and more dragons). House of the Dragon season 1 filming was wrapped in February 2022, releasing six months later, though it also had a schedule that included Covid-related shutdowns. With that, House of the Dragon season 2's release date being around April 2024, a slot long occupied by Game of Thrones, is a reasonable assumption, though HBO may hold it for later after a lot of success with its August rollout.

House of the Dragon will return for season 2 on HBO.