Matt Smith and Paddy Considine praise House of the Dragon recasts
By Daniel Roman
It’s a big week for House of the Dragon. After five episodes full of stellar performances, many of the show’s younger cast members are saying their adieus as we head into a 10-year time jump. Once Episode 6 airs, we’ll be introduced to a whole new cast of actors, including new ones playing Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower.
It’s a bold move, in part because Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, the actors who played Rhaenyra and Alicent as young women, were some of the breakout stars of the series. It’s asking a lot of viewers to now accept Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke in these roles in the middle of a season, as opposed to re-casting characters between seasons like The Crown does it on Netflix. How will audiences react?
We’ll find out when “The Princess and the Queen” airs on HBO and HBO Max this Sunday. But according to House of the Dragon stars Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine (King Viserys Targaryen), we’re in for a treat. “It was brilliant, actually, because I think they’ve done brilliant work.” Smith told E! News. “It gave you a completely different context for the age thing to play off.”
“Yeah, I loved it,” Considine agreed. “I loved it because they were the same character, but they [had] different energy.”
“Brilliant” recasts are coming this week in House of the Dragon
With only a few more days to go until D’Arcy and Cooke take over for Rhaenyra and Alicent respectively, we’ll soon be able to see for ourselves. But based on the footage we’ve gotten, I’m feeling way more excited than nervous about the transition.
In addition to D’Arcy and Cooke, Episode 6 will also introduce us to adult versions of Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan) and Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), as well as a slew of new young cast members who will be playing Rhaenrya and Alicent’s kids. That includes Rhaenyra’s future rival for the Iron Throne Aegon Targaryen (Ty Tennant). The House of the Dragon grows.
House of the Dragon premieres new episodes Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.
Next. Small Council: What did you think of House of the Dragon Episode 5?. dark
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h/t CNet