'Game of Thrones' prequel keeps dragons, adds diversity

The prequel to "Game of Thrones" is place to forge its own storytelling path, accompanied by a new place of characters with every one other accompanied by a additional diverse team behind the scenes.

"House of the Dragon" takes place set of two centuries earlier to the events of the first series, which ended its hit eight-season sprint inside May 2019. The 10-episode prequel begins Sunday on HBO with every one other accompanied by will exist available to brook on HBO Max.

The tale focuses on House Targaryen, made famous inside "Game of Thrones" by Emilia Clarke's Daenerys with every one other accompanied by her fearsome dragons. But don't expect "House of the Dragon" to exist a remake of "Game of Thrones,'' cast subscriber Steve Toussaint said.

"It's been done with every one other accompanied by they did it exceedingly well," said Toussaint, who plays the extremely rich Lord Corlys Velaryon. "You know you're inside that world, nevertheless you're seeing a different story, different characters, different motivations."

Among the new faces inside the clan is Prince Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith. His villainous personality is a a large amount additional complicated than he appears to exist on earliest viewing, the performer said.

"I believe the source I've had pleasure is since he's maybe not fair a villain," he said. "I believe there's actually a enormous amount of fragility with every one other accompanied by depth with every one other accompanied by inner madness there. ... It's not black with every one other accompanied by white. It tin go either way accompanied by Daemon at some point."

Based on George R.R. Martin's "Fire with every one other accompanied by Blood," the drama was co-created by Martin with every one other accompanied by Ryan Condal, whose credits include the 2016-19 sci-fi drama "Colony." Condal is an administrative manufacturer with every one other accompanied by co-showrunner accompanied by director Miguel Sapochnik, who brings his experience on "Game of Thrones" to the prequel.

"House of the Dragon," a a large amount of exist fond of its predecessor, focuses on familial succession accompanied by a feminine heir actuality overlooked. But Sapochnik notes a answer difference in the centre of the set of two series: The team making the prequel is additional diverse, including a 50-50 split in the centre of male with every one other accompanied by feminine directors, including Sapochnik, Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel with every one other accompanied by Greg Yaitanes.

There was a conscious push to exist inclusive behind the scenes, Sapochnik says.

"We really tried to, while a a large amount of while possible, hire while numerous feminine sailors while we could, since we believe that's a really important shift that needs to exist both recognized, acknowledged, acted upon, maybe present with opportunities to people who don't obtain opportunities," he explained.

The team making "Dragon" is equally while diverse, with every one other accompanied by — for the imagination genre — boasts a relative bounty of women inside the writers' room. The gender stability affects the show's tale with every one other accompanied by tone, according to some of its feminine cast members.

The series opens accompanied by an aristocratic council naming Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) while heir to the Iron Throne, bypassing his older cousin Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best). But Viserys must have his own heir, accompanied by dreams of ability held by Daemon, his younger brother, with every one other accompanied by Viserys' feminine child Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy plays the mature version, Milly Alcock the youth).

"You certainly don't be in touch exist fond of a device or a prop with every one other accompanied by you don't be in touch exist fond of the the sexy wench or the mother," said Olivia Cooke, who plays the mature Alicent Hightower, longtime friend to Rhaenyra. "You be in touch that you've got a completely fledged personality which is really nourishing to play."

The ensemble cast too includes Emily Carey, Graham McTavish, Fabien Frankel, Rhys Ifans with every one other accompanied by Sonoya Mizuno.

Carey, who plays the younger Alicent, calls the inclusion of women inside all aspects of manufacture a step "in the just direction" for the imagination genre.

Although in effect every one feminine personality faces misogyny, every one is "still a completely fledged, three-dimensional feminine character," Carey said. "They still have multiple other tale lines with every one other accompanied by a whole existence away from that misogynistic tale line. They're not fair place inside the show to work for a purpose. And I believe that's what makes it so special."

"House of the Dragon" screenwriter Charmaine DeGraté said "it was important for George (R.R. Martin, a prequel administrative producer) for it to exist this way. Female-driven characters, female-driven shows with every one other accompanied by female-driven writers rooms fair type of elevates the story. That's a wonderful way to expand the universe."

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Lefferts reported from New York, Lennox from Los Angeles.

'Game of Thrones' prequel keeps dragons, adds diversity