Dreamcasting House of the Dragon season 2: Who should play the big new roles?

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Filming as begun on the second season of House of the Dragon, HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel. We know that a lot of our favorite actors are coming back: Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, and more.

House of the Dragon is based on the book Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin. If the show stays true to the book, a lot of new characters will be introduced in season 2. While we wait for official word, let’s run down some of the big new players on the way and speculate about which actors might do justice to the characters we love.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 26: Clive Standen attends the premiere of Apple TV+’s “Shrinking” at Directors Guild Of America on January 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images) /

Clive Standen as…Ulf White

When last we left House of the Dragon, two rival branches of the Targaryen family — the greens and the blacks — were on the edge of war. Without spoiling anything, battle will indeed be joined in season 2, both on the ground with soldiers and in the air with dragons.

At one point in the conflict, Rhaenyra Targaryen will put out the call for people to come to Dragonstone and try to mount some of the wild dragons on the island, the idea being that the more dragonriders they have on their side, the better their chances in the war. Ulf White, an illiterate man-at-arms who spends a lot of his time drunk, is one of these “dragonseeds.”

Clive Standen has previously played tough and intimidating characters, such as Rollo in Vikings; he would be a good fit for the morally flexible Ulf. Standen also has experience playing characters in period dramas.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – SEPTEMBER 21: Mark Strong attends the ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ press conference at Yongsan CGV on September 21, 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images) /

Mark Strong as…Lord Roderick Dustin

Mark Strong is a highly respected and accomplished actor with a wide range of experience in film, television, and theater. I believe he would be a great fit for the role of Lord Roderick Dustin, a weathered northern warrior who throws in with Rhaenyra and her blacks during the Dance of the Dragons.

Strong has a commanding presence and a deep, authoritative voice that would suit the character of Lord Roderick, who is described as a stern and serious figure; he has played a number of characters in historical dramas, which would make him a good fit for the medieval world of Westeros. Lord Roderick is ruthless and cunning, which Strong should be able to play with no problem.

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