HBO's upcoming Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, has officially begun casting. For practically all of its eight-season run, Game of Thrones was HBO's biggest show, enchanting audiences around the globe and picking up countless awards along the way. Just last year, Game of Thrones came to an end, and to say that end was controversial would be putting it lightly. Many fans were displeased with how the story came to an end, particularly in regards to the completion of certain characters' arcs. Nevertheless, HBO has forged ahead with its attempts to keep the world of Game of Thrones alive through various spin-off shows.

There were initially several Game of Thrones-related projects in the works, but they have gradually been whittled down. One potential show, The Long Night, even filmed its pilot and cast its main characters (Naomi Watts was one of the leads). However, HBO scrapped plans for The Long Night last October for undefined reasons. That same day, it ordered House of the Dragon to series. Director Miguel Sapochnik (best known for crafting "The Battle of the Bastards") will helm several episodes and serve as co-showrunner alongside Ryan Condal.

EW reports through various sources that HBO has officially begun casting House of the Dragon. The network hasn't released any official casting breakdowns yet, but since this series is based on director George R.R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood, it is expected that several characters from that novel will be included in House of the Dragon.


House of the Dragon will take place 300 years before the start of Game of Thrones and chart the history of House Targaryen, represented in Game of Thrones through Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). Sources also reported that the Dance of Dragons, or the Targaryen Civil War that was mentioned in Game of Thrones, will be shown at some point in House of the Dragon's run, provided it reaches that point. Right now, House of the Dragon is aiming for a 2022 release.

Odds are, the COVID-19 pandemic has made forward progress on House of the Dragon difficult, but this is a positive sign for the series. Beyond the fact that it's under the Game of Thrones banner, there's a great deal of interest in House of the Dragon because of House Targaryen's ripe history, which Martin has written out in vivid detail. It might be a while before HBO chooses to announce who they have cast for this next series, but fans are no doubt waiting in breathless anticipation.