See gorgeous new images from HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel show

HBO has officially revealed the premiere date for its Game of Thrones prequel show House of the Dragon: we return to Westeros in August!

In celebration, the network released a bevy of beautiful new images from the show, which is set some 200 years before the story we know. The show is based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, so we already know a lot about the characters. Let’s take a look!

Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower

Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon has an ensemble cast. That said, Rhaenyra Targaryen is at the center of a lot of the drama. She is the daughter of King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine), who formally names her as his heir. That goes against tradition — usually it’s the son who inherits, not the daughter — but people more or less respect his decision…while he’s alive.

But after King Viserys dies, his second wife Alicent Hightower decides that she would rather see her son by the king, Aegon, on the Iron Throne. That’s the central conflict of the show: who will succeed Viserys? The elder daughter that he preferred or the latter-born son championed by the widowed queen? A lot of people will die before that question is answered.

Rhaenyra and Alicent have a fascinating relationship. At first they were friends, and it looks like they’re on good terms in the picture above. That’s back when they were young women played by Miley Alcook (Rhaenrya) and Emily Carey (Alicent). Once Alicent starts having children with the king, things cool and a rivalry begins. We’ll catch up with these women later in their lives when they’re played by Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra) and Olivia Cooke (Alicent).

In fact, here’s a look at the older Rhaenyra and Alicent below:

HBO has cast older and younger versions of several characters, Rhaenyra and Alicent being the most important. We still don’t know whether that means the show will have flashbacks, or if the characters will start off being played by the younger actors and transition into the older ones, or if there will be two parallel timelines, or what.

Viserys and Daemon Targaryen

Obviously, King Viserys is also an important character. He’s a fairly laid back guy, as far as kings go.

However, his brother Daemon Targaryen, played by Doctor Who veteran Matt Smith, is anything but. Daemon is ambitious, impulsive, bellicose and a huge thorn in his brother’s side, although they do have affection for each other.

At one point, King Viserys even banishes Daemon from court after his latest indignity, possibly on the advice of Otto Hightower, his Hand of the King. Otto, played by Rhys Ifans, is Alicent Hightower’s father, and he doesn’t like that Daemon seems to have designs on the Iron Throne that Otto wants reserved for his grandson.

One of the reasons Viserys is wroth with Daemon is because Daemon seems to be interested in Rhaenyra…who is his niece. Yes, there will be some good old fashioned Targaryen incest in this show. Strap in.

And Rhaenyra isn’t the only woman Daemon has his eye on. He’s on intimate terms with a peasant woman named Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), who immigrates to King’s Landing from the Free City of Lys.

Mysaria will have a long story. She starts as a favorite of Daemon’s, but before the story is over she will become an important advisor to Rhaenyra during her bid for the throne, using her extensive network of contacts to give the would-be queen information. Think of her as this show’s version of Varys from Game of Thrones.

The Velaryons

We also have this lovely image of of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and his wife Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best). He is a famed mariner and the head of the richest house of this time period (eat your heart out, Lannisters). She is a dragonrider and came close to being queen herself in her youth, but was passed over on account of her being a woman. Naturally, when war breaks out between Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon, the Velaryons are Team Rhaenyra all the way. Which is useful, because they have a very powerful navy. And also dragons.

There are also some family ties. Early on in the story, Rhaenyra Targaryen is married to Corlys and Rhaenys’ son Leanor while Daemon is married to their daughter Laena. But y’know, not every marriage is meant to last…

Criston Cole

Finally, we have Fabian Frankel as Cristin Cole, a knight of the Kingsguard and an excellent warrior. He’ll be an interesting one to watch because the book is unclear on what exactly his motivation is. In his younger days, he was very close with Rhaenyra Targaryen, but it’s kept deliberately vague whether they were romantic or just good friends, or if he wanted her more than she wanted him or the other way around, or what.

We also know that his feelings changed drastically at some point and that he sides with Alicent and Aegon against Rhaenyra during the war. But again, the reason for the break is left ambiguous. House of the Dragon could have a lot of fun filling in the details.

House of the Dragon takes flight on August 21.

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