House of the Dragon is cranking up the intensity for its third season, much to the excitement of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood fans. HBO’s grand fantasy epic is exploring even further into the violent and tumultuous history of House Targaryen. With the conflict between the Blacks and the Greens quickly reaching a boiling point, the introduction of a crucial new character could dramatically alter the course of the war.
As the cast and crew are hard at work filming the highly anticipated third season in the U.K., news has just broke that Australian-British actress Annie Shapero has been cast in a major role. Fans of the book will instantly recognize her character, as she plays a significant role in Fire & Blood. Shapero has joined the season 3 cast, portraying the role of Alysanne “Black Aly” Blackwood.
Black Aly is a bold and loyal warrior who fights on the side of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (the Blacks) during the bloody civil war against the Greens, who support Aegon II. She is also the aunt of Lord Benjicot Blackwood and eventually marries Lord Cregan Stark.
According to Deadline, Shapero is not part of the main cast. However, it's believed that she'll appear in most episodes of House of the Dragon season 3. In fact, Deadline reports that Shapero is set to feature in five of the eight episodes. The season itself is expected to be released sometime next year.
Shapero joins other new cast members for the third season, such as James Norton, Tommy Flanagan, and Dan Fogler. Norton plays Ormund Hightower, cousin to Alicent Hightower, while Flanagan takes on the role of Lord Roderick Dustin, and Fogler portrays Ser Torrhen Manderly.
Although still fairly new to the entertainment industry, Shapero is best known for her role as Jenny in Red Skies, the award-winning Israeli TV series. She also took on the role of Anna Moore in the Jacob Elordi-led film The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Other than House of the Dragon season 3, we'll see her next in the upcoming Australian horror film Saccharine.
HBO has not set an official release date for House of the Dragon season 3 yet. However, we'll be sure to share updates as soon as more details become available. With an expected 2026 release, anticipation is building for what will surely be another incredible installment! Stay tuned to WiC for now!
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