HBO is getting ready to premiere House of the Dragon, a prequel series to Game of Thrones set some 200 years before the story we know. It will share a lot in common with its predecessor, including an opulent production, a complicated story, and an enormous cast.
The cast of the original Game of Thrones was one of its big selling points, including recognizable faces like Sean Bean, well-established actors like Lena Headey, and rising stars like Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner. Can House of the Dragon continue that legacy?
We can start to get an idea by looking at the acting reels of some of the principle cast members, helpfully gathered by u/shad0wqueenxx on the House of the Dragon subreddit.
Watch the actors playing Rhaenyra Targaryen
Let’s start with Milly Alcock, who’s playing young Rhaenyra Targaryen. Rhaenyra is the eldest living child of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), and his chosen heir to the throne. As a youth, she is charming and beautiful, earning the nickname of the Realm’s Delight.
"Milly Alcock (Young Rhaenyra) acting showreel (credit @housethedragons on IG) from HouseOfTheDragon"
Alcock certainly seems charming in that first scene especially.
Rhaenyra is a crucial character in this story so it’s important to get her right. She’s one of a few characters played by two actors; as an adult, she’ll be played by Emma D’Arcy.
"Emma D’Arcy (Adult Rhaenyra) acting showreel (credit @housethedragons on IG) from HouseOfTheDragon"
Over time, Rhaenyra D’Arcy gets older, wiser and more angry. Emma D’Arcy isn’t necessarily a person I would look at and immediately think, “That’s Rhaenyra,” but she does seem like an expert craftsperson who can bring a lot of subtlety and nuance to the role, which will benefit the show in the long run.
See Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
So far as we know, HBO has only hired the one actor to play Rhaenyra’s younger half-brother Aegon II Targaryen, described in the pages of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood as a callow boy prone to sloth. But he changes over the course of the story, meaning we need another actor who can bring dimension to the role. Is Tom Glynn-Carney that guy?
"Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II) acting showreel from HouseOfTheDragon"
Aegon is Rhaenyra’s main rival for the Iron Throne. It can’t hurt that Glynn-Carney has experience acting in medieval dramas.
See Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
Welsh actor Rhys Ifans is playing the role of Otto Hightower, Hand of the King under Viserys and a supporter of Aegon during the Dance. He’s had an extensive acting career, including big name roles in the Harry Potter series and movies like Notting Hill.
"Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower) acting showreel (credit @housethedragons IG). An accomplished and well-known actor already, and as you can see in one clip, is already rather familiar with one of his co-stars 😉 from HouseOfTheDragon"
It’s funny that in the one clip Ifans is yelling at Matt Smith, who plays Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. They were enemies in that movie and they’re enemies again in this show.
See Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
Speaking of Daemon, at one point in the story he’s attached to Mysaria, a dancing girl from Essos who rises to be Rhaenya’s mistress of whisperers during the Dance. She’s played by Sonoya Mizuno:
"Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria) acting showreel (credit @housethedragons IG) from HouseOfTheDragon"
I wonder if House of the Dragon will show off Mizuno’s dancing chops.
See Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
Finally, here’s The Last Kingdom star Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen, son of King Viserys and his second wife Alicent Hightower. He’s Aegon’s younger brohter.
"Ewan Mitchell (Adult Aemond) acting showreel (credit: @housethedragons IG) You guys liked the ones for Emma, Milly and Tom so I figured I’d share this too! from HouseOfTheDragon"
It looks like Aemond will spend at least part of season 1 played by a child actor. But when he gets older, he plays a major role in the Dance.
House of the Dragon will premiere on HBO and HBO Max on August 21. And there’s a lot more cast where this came from:
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