Like mother show Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon has a HUGE cast of characters. Who’s in this prequel series, and who are they playing?
It’s really happening! Many details remain unrevealed, but HBO is officially in production on House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones set over 100 years before the original show. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon tells the story of a brutal Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Just like Game of Thrones, this new show has a deep bench of characters, many of which fans are sure to fall in love with. Let’s take a look at who we know has been cast so far, and get to know the characters they’re playing.
Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon
I always feel that fantasy shows and movies are well served when the actors have classical training and stage experience. Eve Best comes to House of the Dragon from the stage, where she’s won an Olivier Award and been nominated for a Tony twice over. For a glimpse of what we might see from her on the show, take a look at her brilliant-but-brief turn as Wallis Simpson in The King’s Speech. She’s also appeared on television in Fate: The Winx Saga and Nurse Jackie, among other credits.
Best will play “The Queen that never was,” Princess Rhaenys Velaryon. Rhaenys is the eldest daughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen, the eldest son of King Jaehaerys. Her father is first in line for the Iron Throne, which means she’s not far behind.
However, upon her father’s death, Jaehaerys passes her over and names his second son Baelon as heir to the throne. That son eventually dies as well, leading to the Great Council of 101, when Jaehaerys brings the entire realm together to decide who should succeed the throne. Rhaenys, there with her son Laenor and husband Corlys Velaryon, is put forth as the potential Queen to be. But the assembled lords vote to appoint Baelon’s son Viserys instead. When House of the Dragon begins, King Viserys is still on the Iron Throne, and while Rhaenys respects his rule, she’ll always know that the realm passed her over for him.
The decision at the Council set the precedent that the male claimant always supersedes the female, which will be very important in setting the stage for the Dance of the Dragons. Passed over again, Rhaenys and her husband retire to their home on Driftmark and eventually marry their son Leanor to Viserys’ daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. That makes them second cousins. Compared to some of the other instances of incest in this story, that’s pretty mild.
Rhaenys is powerful, smart and loyal. She’s into her middle years by the time of House of the Dragon, but still a fearsome warrior known for riding her red dragon Meleys into battle. Look for her marriage with Corlys to be one of the healthier relationships depicted on the show. I have no doubt an actress like Eve Best can make this character one to remember.
Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
Toussaint is mostly unknown to American audiences but has had a long and successful career in British film and television. He’s mainly appeared as cops or detectives in various British police dramas, but can also be seen in films like Prince of Persia and Judge Dredd.
Toussaint is cast as a character I expect to be one of the most important and admirable on the show: Corlys Velaryon, known as the Sea Snake on account of his ship, which he used to sail all over the Known World and beyond in his younger days. The Lord of the Tides and the head of House Velaryon, Coryls is the greatest sailor that the Seven Kingdoms have ever known. He is wise in peace and fierce in war, a clever man who knows how to play the game of thrones but doesn’t get consumed by it.
The Corlys we meet in House of the Dragon is an older man, but no less adventurous and determined to make a name for House Velaryon. Members of his family have been passed up for the Iron Throne time and time again, and he will not stand for anyone other than Rhaenyra Targaryen being named as successor to King Viserys. He plays a very important role in all the events of the Dance and we can expect him to be a fan favorite for the show’s entire run.
Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen
British actor Paddy Considine was one of the first casting announcements to come from HBO in regards to House of the Dragon. His inclusion confirms that the show starting amid the king’s reign rather than after it, which is when the Dance really begins.
Considine has a long career on stage and screen, with notable roles in films like Dead Man’s Shoes and In America. You can also see him in Peaky Blinders as a terrifyingly sadistic priest, Banquo in a recent production of Macbeth, and on stage in 2019’s The Ferryman, which garnered him both Olivier and Tony nominations. But for a sense of what Considine will bring to the character of Viserys, I’d look at his performances in Hot Fuzz, The Death of Stalin and The Bourne Ultimatum, where he plays sympathetic characters who assume responsibilities they’re not well-suited for, which is a part of King Viserys’ story.
Considine plays likable characters well, and King Viserys is very likable. He’s not a warrior, a dragon rider, or power-hungry. He spends his reign keeping the peace and trying to keep everyone happy. His first marriage to Aemma Arryn (played on the show by Sian Brooke, although probably not for very long) brought him his pride and joy, Princess Rhaenyra. He loves his daughter deeply and has promised her the crown. But that decision doesn’t sit well with his second wife, Alicent Hightower. When the king dies, she calls the Great Council of 101 to argue that her firstborn son by Viserys, Aegon, should be king instead.
While alive, Viserys finds himself in the middle of a great feud between his wife and his daughter, and beset by rumors that Rhaenyra’s children are bastards. If he had managed to settle the feud before he died, might the Dance of the Dragons have been avoided? Perhaps, but Viserys was never good with confrontation. In a way, he’s lucky he doesn’t live long enough to see the people he loves most go to war with one another.
Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole
Other than a small role in Netflix’s new true-crime series The Serpent, Frankel is a relatively new face. Well, he’s about to blow up. Criston Cole is quite possibly one of the most interesting characters in this story. Combine Loras Tyrell, Oberyn Martell, Jorah Mormont, and Barristan Selmy all into one valiant, scheming, tortured, lovesick knight and then place him in the middle of a dragon-filled Civil War between feuding Targaryens…That’s Criston Cole.
Cole is the greatest knight in Westeros at the time of House of the Dragon, but he doesn’t fight with a sword like so many other famous fighters in the Seven Kingdoms. He prefers a Morningstar, which is pretty badass.
It will be very interesting to see how the show handles the love affair between Criston Cole and Rhaenyra, if that’s even what they had. We know from Fire & Blood that they were close, but the text leaves the exact nature of their relationship ambiguous. At one point, one of them attempts to consummate the relationship with the other, and gets rejected. Form then on, Criston becomes one of Rhaenyra’s most biter enemies, and sides against her in the Dance.
Perhaps we’ll get more specific answers in the show. I anticipate great things from Fabien Frankel and his Morningstar.
Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
Rhys Ifans is one of the more recognizable names in this cast. The Welsh actor and musician has a long career, making a name for himself in such films as Anonymous and Notting Hill. His performance as the deranged scientist Dr. Conners — who eventually turns into the Lizard — was one of the only redeeming parts of 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man. Fans will also recognize him from the Harry Potter movies, where he plays Xenophelius Lovegood.
Ifans takes on the role of Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon. Hightower is a learned scholar, skilled in the ways of politics, power, chivalry and war. A proud and domineering man, Otto has far-reaching ambitions for his own family.
Hightower serves as the Hand of the King to Viserys I Targaryen on two separate occasions. He is initially expelled from court after repeatedly bringing up the issue of succession, arguing that his grandsons by his daughter Alicent Hightower should take precedence over the rights of the king’s own daughter Rhaenyra. After the death of Lord Lyonel Strong, Otto is renamed Hand of the King and serves Viserys until the king dies.
During the Dance, Otto Hightower is an ardent supporter of his grandson Aegon, against the wishes of his former king. During the civil war, Otto tries to avoid bloodshed in the hope that the conflict can be solved diplomatically. He’s also a steadfast enemy of the late king’s younger brother Daemon Targaryen.
It will be fascinating to watch this skilled actor take on the role of someone who despite all their skill in courtly matters much watch their best-laid plans turn into his worst nightmares. Expect a riveting performance from a stellar actor.
Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
One of the main players in the Dance will be portrayed by rising star Olivia Cooke. Cooke has appeared in movies like Ready Player One and the Oscar-winning Sound of Metal, but House of the Dragon will give her the chance to truly shine. Her brilliant performance as Emma Decody in Bates Motel is surely one of the big reasons HBO decided to hire the young actor in this important role.
Alicent is the second wife of King Viserys I Targaryen, and gives him three healthy Targaryen sons. Think of Alicent as an even more mature and successful version of Margery Tyrell. She greatly advances her family’s interests by marrying King Viserys, and then her ambition extends to getting one of her sons on the Iron Throne, over the objections of the king’s only surviving child from his first marriage, her step-daughter Rhaenyra.
The feud between the two women eventually leads to a civil war. At a great tournament in King’s Landing, the two establish their rivalry by wearing black and green gowns respectively, dividing the court into two factions, the “Blacks” who support Rhaenyra and the “Greens” who support Alicent and her son Aegon, whom she wants on the throne.
Leading up to the Dance, Alicent’s hatred for Rhaenyra and the king’s brother Daemon grows more fervent by the day. She and Rhaenyra each have three sons that they constantly pit against one another, and there’s already a lot of bad blood when the king dies and the Dance begins in earnest. Alicent leads the charge to crown her son Aegon, which happens even before Rhaenyra — who’s away on Dragonstone — even learns that her father is dead.
These political maneuvers will be a joy to see brought to life by Olivia Cooke, who is sure to capture Alicent’s intelligence and ferocity.
And now for a special surprise…
Emily Carey as Young Alicent Hightower
HBO has revealed that it’s casting actors to play younger versions of at least two important characters, including Alicent Hightower. Her younger self will be played by Emily Carey, who’s kind of made a career out of this sort of thing: she played young Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman and young Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, in addition to several other credits.
Will we flash back to Alicent’s younger days? Will there be multiple timelines? That has yet to be determined. We also don’t know how far back we’ll go. Might we even see Alicent’s very early days at court when she attended the old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen on his deathbed?
There’s a lot of unanswered questions here. As for the identity of the other character getting the flashback treatment, read on…
Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
Aegon II Targaryen is the eldest son of King Viserys I Targaryen and his second wife Alicent Hightower, and one of two main claimants to the Iron Throne after King Viserys dies and leaves the seat vacant, the other being Aegon’s older half-sister Rhaenyra Targaryen.
That said, Aegon doesn’t have quite the willpower that Rhaenrya has. He tends to be sullen and pouty, at least in his early life. He also has a reputation for chasing women and is known to have fathered several bastards. For the early part of his reign, at least, there are a lot of people pulling Aegon’s strings, including his mother Alicent and younger brother Aemond. But he does make some wily moves of his own, and is very important to the story overall.
In fact, he’s so important that it’s a little odd that HBO hasn’t highlighted his character more, but perhaps that’s because the first season of House of the Dragon won’t reach the parts of the story where he’s a bigger player.
This could be a huge role for Tom Glynn-Carney, who before this has had parts in movies like Dunkirk and Tolkien. We know he’ll kill it.
Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
Ewan Mitchell, who some might recognize as Osferth aka “Baby Monk” from the excellent Netflix show The Last Kingdom, will play the one-eyed Aemond Targaryen on House of the Dragon. Mitchell is lucky, because this is a juicy role.
Aemond is the third of four children of King Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. A dragonrider like his siblings, Aemond is hot-headed, bold, and slow to forgive. He was also an excellent warrior; you don’t want to get on this guy’s bad side.
Aemond has a long journey. As a child, he gets into a fight with Rhaenyra’s kids and ends up losing an eye, deepening the rivalry between the two camps. When he’s older, he’s a devoted green, but has a wild streak. He sits the Iron Throne for a spell when Aegon is indisposed, and was said to have opined that the crown looked better on him than it ever did on Aegon. And he’s involved in possibly the most spectacular battle of the war against his uncle Daemon, but we won’t spoil that here.
Again, it’s a hell of a role. Ewan Mitchell could become a big name if he pulls it off.
Leo Ashton as Young Aemond Targaryen
Remember when we talked about all the stuff Aemond gets up to as a kid? For those events, he’ll be played by young actor Leo Ashton. Even as a child, Aemond will probably divide opinion. You’ll see what we mean soon enough.
Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
Most of the Targaryens in this story are intense, angry, often unstable monsters. Helaena bucks that trend. She is a kind, gentle soul who is beloved by pretty much all who meet her. Naturally that means she’s going to come to a horrible end, but not in this first season. Let’s treasure the time we have with her.
Helaena is another child of King Viserys Targaryen and his second wife Alicent Hightower. In the Targaryen tradition, she is wed to her brother Aegon, which…gross, but I guess if you grow up in an environment where that kind of thing is normal, it isn’t quite as vile, at least not to you. They have kids together and Helaena is a loving mother. A shame what happens later…
But again, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Halaena has a dragon named Dreamfyre that she also loves.
As for Phia Saban, she’s a promising young actor who made a splash as Ælfwynn in The Last Kingdom. Ælfwynn was also a noble-born young lady in a medieval milieu, so Saban should have this role in the bag.
Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
In a relatively short period of time, Mizuno has risen to become a go-to name for compelling and startlingly intense sci-fi roles. She splashed onto the scene in 2014’s Ex Machina and hasn’t looked back since, with starring roles in the television series Maniac and Devs. She can also be seen in smaller supporting roles in award-winning films like La La Land and Crazy Rich Asians.
As seen in Devs, Ex Machina and Maniac, Mizuno excels in roles where she’s mysterious, intriguing, and highly capable. This will serve her well in the role of Mysaria of Lys, aka Lady Misery. Mysaria is a fascinating character and one that I didn’t initially expect to see put forward as one of the principal characters. While she’s an essential figure to the story, much of her contributions don’t come until later in the Dance. But moving her into the limelight will let the show explore some interesting corners of the story.
Mysaria begins her journey as a peasant in King’s Landing, eventually becoming the favorite paramour of Daemon Targaryens. She has a bit in common with Varys in that she has a network of contacts in the underbelly of the city and tends to know what’s going on before anyone else. She uses this talent to rise to become the unofficial “mistress of whisperers” under Rhaenyra Targaryen, and has a hand in some pretty major (and majorly disturbing) events that take place in the Dance. It will be fascinating to see how House of the Dragon brings her into the fold. Mizuno will surely bring a lot to the character and help flesh her out.
Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
Rhaenyra Targaryen is a definite fan-favorite among fans of Fire & Blood, and her casting was highly anticipated. I think HBO nailed it. Game of Thrones was successful in part because many of the main actors were fairly new to the scene and were able to grow into their characters. Casting Emma D’Arcy is very much in keeping with that tradition.
While this won’t be D’Arcy’s first performance on screen, you can nearly count her IMDb credits on one hand. But given that Rhaenyra is such an important role, we may become very familiar with her name in the years to come. I’ve been staring at the set photos of D’Arcy in full Targaryen costume since their release and can’t wait for fans to see the story of one of the most complicated, nuanced, and fascinating characters to spring from George R.R. Martin’s mind.
The eldest child of King Viserys I Targaryen and the only one born of his first Aemma Arryn to live to see adulthood, Rhaenyra was promised the Iron Throne throughout her childhood. Known as “The Realms Delight” in her youth, Rhaenyra was named heir to the throne at the age of eight and grew up riding on the back of her great dragon Syrax. As she grew older, she was involved in a number of courtly scandals, including an affair with her uncle Daemon, her loveless marriage to Laenor Velaryon, a (possible) affair with Criston Cole, and her relationship with Harwin Strong (Breakbones). When her father dies, she sees the Iron Throne as her birthright, but her step-mother Alicent and half-brother Aegon feel very differently. And so the Dance begins.
Many dispute Rhaenyra’s claim based purely on her sex, others because they fear the kind of ruler she could become. Rhaenyra is ambitious, cunning, ruthless and smart. Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon has a lot of different characters vying for top billing, but there’s a good argument that Rhaenyra is the focal point. Everything turns on her. She goes on a quite the journey throughout this story, and I’m fascinated to see what Emma D’Arcy will bring to her. I’m sure that D’Arcy will make a great name for herself with a compelling performance.
Milly Alcock as Young Rhaenyra Targaryen
Rhaenyra is the other character who will also be played by a younger actor, in this case Upright and The Gloaming star Milly Alcock. Her relationship with Alicent Hightower starts pretty early, so it makes sense that these two are the only ones who get this treatment…that we know of, anyway. It’s possible that HBO has cast younger versions of lots of characters and that these are the only two they’ve announced.
Anyway, apart from her time with Alicent, there’s a lot we could see from a younger Rhaenyra: learning leadership at her father’s feet, her early relationship with Daemon (ew), having lords swear her fealty according to their kings’ wishes…she had an eventful youth.
Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
Matt Smith is most famous for his role as the Eleventh Doctor on Doctor Who, but to get an idea of what he could bring to the character of Daemon Targaryen, I’d look at his picture-perfect performance as Prince Phillip in the first two seasons of The Crown. Phillip is a complex character with a traumatic past, haughty attitude and outsized ego, but Smith played him in a way that highlighted his human side, showing us how even his most despicable moments are motivated by a desperate desire to secure his place in the world. A lot of this maps neatly onto Daemon Targaryen, the younger brother of the king.
Daemon is the most feared warrior and dragon-rider in Westeros. He rides the battle-tested Caraxes, called the Blood Wyrm, and shares his bloodlust. Together they war in the Stepstones, and later during the Dance.
Daemon has plenty of normal lust too and takes a number of lovers over the course of the series, including his own niece Rhaenyra, whom he eventually weds. Daemon has a stormy-but-respectful relationship with his older brother King Viserys, and made enemies wherever he went. But as larger-than-life as he is, he also maintained connections with the smallfolk, particularly Mysaria, and could call upon her network to his advantage. Daemon consorts with hitmen, gold cloaks, pirates, sorcerers, witches, dragons, and all manner of low-lives in order to give himself more power, knowledge, and influence. He is deeply feared among the greens, and his support of Rhaenyra’s claim is essential to her fight.
Smith is going to be absolutely riveting in this role. I can’t wait to see him bring his devilish grin, piercing stares, and terrifying charm to the World of Ice and Fire.
Michael Carter as King Jaehaerys Targaryen
This one is exciting, because we didn’t know if we were going to see this character. King Jaehaerys Targaryen is one of the important monarchs in the history of Westeros. He reigned during decades of peace and prosperity, but in his older years set the stage for the bloodshed of the Dance of the Dragons by passing over Rhaenys Targaryen to be his heir after his first-born son died. She and her progeny were passed over again at a later council where Jaehaerys was not present, at least not in the books. He couldn’t have known it at the time, but these decisions would go on to cost his family — and Westeros as a whole — dearly.
We’ll see Jaehaerys at least once in House of the Dragon, probably very early on and possibly even in the very first scene. He’s dead for the great majority of events that transpire of this story, but those councils I mentioned are so important to setting the stage that I can imagine the show opening with one of them.
As for who’s playing him, Michael Carter is a Scottish actor who’s had a long career in TV, film and on stage. He’s had notable roles in stuff like An American Werewolf in London and The Illusionist, although easily his most famous is as Jabba the Hutt’s lackey Bib Fortuna in 1981’s Return of the Jedi. He’s the guy with the long tentacle thing draped around his neck.
It’s possible we’ll see King Jaehaerys’ wife Queen Alysanne Targaryen as well, although we’re not sure, and in any case neither of them will be onscreen for long.
John Macmillan as Laenor Velaryon
British actor John Macmillan has had a successful career on stage and screen since 2009, and is most notable for his work in a 2018 TV movie version of King Lear. His performance as Edmund stood out even in a production that featured the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Emily Watson, Florence Pugh, Emma Thompson, Tobias Menzies, Jim Broadbent and Jim Carter. This should give you a sense of this man’s talent and ability to play larger-than-life characters.
Macmillan is playing Laenor Velaryon, the husband to Rhaenyra Targaryen and son of Corlys Velaryon. His marriage to Rhaenyra is purely political. It’s well known that Laenor is gay, and it’s whispered that his children with Rhaenyra aren’t really his, but rather the sons of Harwin “Breakbones” Strong, but he loves the kids all the same.
Alicent and her greens use the rumor that Rhaenyra’s children are bastards as justification for denying Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne.
Laenor is an interesting character and a tragic figure that Macmillan should knock out of the park. I look forward to seeing the depth that an actor like Macmillan can bring to the character.
Theo Nate as Young Laenor Velaryon
Young Laenor is being played by Theo Nate, meaning that Laenor is getting the older-younger actor treatment. It also looks like Solly McLeod will play Ser Joffrey Monmouth, Laenor’s lover in his younger days.
Savannah Steyn as Lady Laena Velaryon
Lady Laena Velaryon is the eldest child and only daughter of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen. A dragonrider, Laena rode the dragon Vhagar, who at the time was the biggest dragon in the Seven Kingdoms, and the only one still surviving from the days of Aegon’s conquest of Westeros.
Laena is bold, beautiful and passionate about the things she loves, which above all includes flying. Like her mother Rhaenys, she was once considered a candidate to inherit the Iron Throne from the old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, but was passed over on account of her being a girl. She was married to Daemon Targaryen, with whom she had twin daughters: Rhaena and Baela. By all accounts they loved each other. She was also very good friends with Rhaenyra Targaryen, who was married to her brother Laenor.
Without spoiling things too much, Laena exits the story fairly early, but that little blurb above gives actor Savannah Steyn a fair bit to work with. Laena is another stand-up member of the Velaryon family. But there’s always that one relative who gives the others a bad name, someone like…
Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon
Ser Vaemond Velaryon is the younger brother of Corlys Velaryon (in the book he’s a nephew, but the show may be streamlining things a bit). We don’t know a ton about his personality, but maybe we can imply a few things based on his actions.
Without going into all the details, cause there are rather a lot of them, at one point Vaemond makes a play to become the new heir of House Velaryon and Driftmark when Corlys fell ill, this despite Corlys having several heirs born to his son Laenor and his wife Rhaenyra Targaryen. The thing is, word around the water cooler was that Laenor’s kids were actually Laenor’s but rather the product of Rhaenyra’s affair with Ser Harwin Strong.
…and that was probably true, but not even the kids themselves realize it, and preserving the line of succession is crucial to the stability of a house. Nonetheless, in his bid for power Vaemond publicly declares the children bastards, a claim that Rhaenyra quickly — and violently — puts down.
Johnson, meanwhile, is an experienced actor who’s been working on screen since the ’80s, with notable roles in TV series like Waking the Dead and Babyfather, in addition to appearing onstage in plays like Othello. Whatever House of the Dragon throws him, he should be more than able to handle it.
Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen and Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
We very likely won’t see Baela and Rhaena Targaryen until later or in the season, or at least, we won’t see them played by these two young actors. Baela and Rhaena are the twin daughters of Daemon Targaryen and Rhaena Velaryon, who won’t yet be together in the beginning of the series. It tells you something about how many years this first season will cover that by the end of it, two girls who aren’t even born by the end of the premiere will have grown into young women.
Baela and Rhaena both have parts to play in the Dance of the Dragons, although we probably won’t see the bulk of their stories until later seasons. I also wonder if they’re still going to be sisters rather than twins in the show, considering that House of the Dragon already has a few sets of twins running around (more on them later).
In any case, although they are very close throughout their lives, Baela and Rhaena are different sorts of people. Baela is the wilder and less predictable of the two — she cuts her hair short so it’ll stop getting in her face while she rides her dragon Moondancer, for instance — while Rhaena has a milder temperament and enjoys more traditionally ladylike activities. Rhaena eventually gets a dragon of her own, too, but we don’t want to say too much about that this early in the game.
Baela and Rhaena Targaryen are both dynamic characters and could be career-making roles for these young actors.
Gavin Spokes as Lord Lyonel Strong
English actor Gavin Spokes plays Lord Lyonel Strong, the lord of Harrenhal at the time of this story. As you may remember from Game of Thrones, people put in charge of the haunted castle of Harrenhal tend to have bad luck, and indeed, Lyonel isn’t the most fortunate characters. But he’s the head of an important house that will play a big role on the show.
Ryan Corr as Ser Harwin ‘Breakbones’ Strong
It’s mainly Lord Lyonel’s kids who will take center stage. Australian actor Ryan Corr, known for his roles in Australian drama series like Packed to the Rafters and Love Child, plays the eldest Strong son Harwin, a renowned knight who gets into a relationship with none other than Rhaenyra Targaryen, and this while she’s married to Laenor Velaryon. In fact, it’s heavily rumored that Rhaenyra’s three children by Laenor are actually Harwin’s, which would account for why they don’t have the traditional Targaryen silver-blonde hair.
We’ve also seen a couple of child actors playing Rhaenyra and Harwin/Laenor’s children, and may well see adult versions of some of them before the season is over. But back to the older Strong men, both Harwin his dad are eclipsed in importance by…
Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
English theater actor Matthew Needham plays the younger Strong boy Larys, who wheedles his way into the favor of Queen Alicent Hightower and her greens by use of his cunning and guile. He becomes a Varys-like figure fond of plotting in the shadows, and manages to do a lot of damage behind the scenes.
Jefferson Hall as Lord Jason Lannister and Tyland Lannister
Jeffreson Hall actually had a small role on Game of Thrones; he played Hugh of the Vale way back in the first season of the show. He didn’t last long before his character was killed; he’ll get more of a chance to shine in House of the Dragon, where he plays twin brothers Jason and Tyland Lannister.
It wouldn’t be a Game of Thrones show without a pair of Lannister twins, I suppose, although these two are better-adjusted that Cersei and Jaime. Jason, the older of the twins, is the Lord of the Casterly Rock during the Dance of the Dragons, by Tyland is the more important character. He serves on the small council of several monarchs and is an early supporter of Alicent Hightower and her son Aegon Targaryen in the war against Rhaenyra Targaryen. But later, when circumstances change, he serves another ruler and tries to do good by the realm. He’s a complicated guy.
Hall could have his work cut out for him in this tricky double role. It would be something if a guy who had a walk-in part in the original show ended up being celebrated for the prequel.
Elliot and Luke Tittensor as Arryk and Erryk Cargyll
Arryk and Erryk Cargyll are twin brothers on the Kingsguard of King Viserys I Targaryen, serving alongside and then under Cristin Cole. Although we don’t know this for an absolute certainly, on-set images indicate that the brothers will be played by real-life twins Elliot and Luke Tittensor.
We don’t know which brother is playing which brother, if you follow us. The Tittensor brothers got their start jointly playing the character of Carl Gallagher on Shameless. Luke eventually left the show and Elliot continued playing Carl. They’ve both done separate acting work since. House of the Dragon will yoke them back together.
The Cargyll twins have a pretty interesting story. When King Viserys dies and the war for the Iron Throne begins, they each choose different sides, with Arryk supporting King Aegon II while Erryk takes up arms for Queen Rhaenyra. The war literally pits brother against brother. I won’t spoil exactly what happens, but it gets about as dramatic as you could possibly imagine.
The story of the Cargyll twins is a great little subplot within a bigger drama. If the show pulls it off, Arryk and Erryk could become fan favorites whose story tugs on viewers’ heartstrings.
They may have to change those names, though; on the page, we know the difference between “Arryk” and “Erryk,” but on a TV show, both names are pronounced “Eric.” Might not work so well when you add sound into the mix.
Bill Paterson as Lord Lyman Beesbury
Bill Paterson is a 76-year-old Scottish actor who has appeared in a great many film and television projects over the course of his career. He definitely has the experience to play Lord Lyman Beesbury, a small character with one incredibly memorable scene.
Lord Lyman served as the master of coin for both King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his grandson King Viserys. He was at court for a long time, so he remembered that King Viserys wanted his daughter Rhaenyra to succeed him to the Iron Throne. When King Viserys died and his wife Alicent tried to crown her son Aegon instead, Lord Lyman was the only member of her green council to argue that what they were doing was wrong, and that Rhaenyra was the rightful heir to the throne.
For this act of bravery, Lord Lyman was…well, accounts differ, but the other members of the council did not take kindly to having their decision questioned. Lord Lyman is really only important for this one scene, but it’s such a good scene that I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up becoming a favorite.
Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling
Outlander and The Hobbit star Graham McTavish confirmed that he would be on the Game of Thrones prequel show a while back, and we guessed that he might be playing Ser Harrold Westerling, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under King Viserys. Later it was confirmed. It’s nice to be right.
Ser Harrold is considered fair, wise and chivalrous, a decent man in a story that doesn’t have many of them. He’s been around for a while, too, having also served on the Kingsguard of Viserys’ grandfather King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
As for Graham McTavish, you take one look at him and you just want to slap him in a suit of armor and put him on a horse. He looks perfect for the role of the veteran knight trying to do his duty in a world where it’s increasingly unclear where his loyalties are supposed to lie.
David Horovitch as Grand Maester Mellos
Grand Maester Mellos was the Grand Maester to King Viserys I Targaryen, and will likely be in the office when the story begins. He was a moderating voice on the king’s small council, always urging caution and compromise, whether it was over foreign wars or conflicts between members of the king’s own family. He also helped reconcile the king with his younger brother Daemon, with whom he had a stormy relationship. The king considered Mellos a personal friend.
As for David Horovitch, he’s been working in theaters and on TV for 40 years, appearing on many popular British TV shows. He’s probably best known for playing the character of Inspector Slack in Miss Marple. Grand Maester Mellos isn’t a huge role, but it’s in good hands.
House of the Dragon characters not yet cast
The Dance of the Dragon involves a whole lot of characters, and we haven’t seen them all cast yet. Kingsguard members like Steffon Darklyn and Lorent Marbrand have yet to be cast, for instance. There are also other child actors we have yet to see. And there are other characters who won’t come in until later in the story.
So there’s still some ways to go, but the end is in sight. The cast is big, and we can’t wait to see them act out this drama.
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