5 characters Henry Cavill could play in the Game of Thrones universe

Henry Cavill as…Hugh Hammer

Neither Aegon the Conqueror nor Maegor the Cruel are characters who are going to show up during the current run of House of the Dragon; they both died long before the principle events in that story starts. But are there any characters Cavill could play who would actually get to interact with the likes of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen?

As it happens, yes. One in particular comes to mind: Hugh Hammer, a blacksmith’s bastard who is due to play an important role in the second season of House of the Dragon and beyond. Some SPOILERS for House of the Dragon follow below, so beware.

Right now, Rhaenyra Targaryen has more dragons than she has dragonriders. In George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, she and her team eventually get the idea to offer lands and titles to anyone who can successfully claim a dragon, provided that they fight for the blacks in the war. Many try and fail, but a few succeed. Hugh Hammer is one of those lucky few. He claims Vermithor, the huge dragon Daemon sang to in the season 1 finale.

Hugh and his fellow dragonseeds give the story something it sorely needs: the perspective of people who aren’t noble-born aristocrats. Hugh is just an ordinary guy, albeit one who thinks pretty highly of himself. Once Hugh starts riding the second largest dragon in the world, the power starts going to his head. I won’t spoil exactly what happens, but let’s just say he does some things Rhaenyra wasn’t expecting when she put out the call for dragonriders.

Like Maegor, Hugh is said to be a huge, strong guy, which matches Cavill well. Also like Maegor, he makes some questionable choices, although everything about him is more petty and down to earth. It could be fun to see Cavill take on this brutish role.