‘Game of Thrones’ prequel retains dragons, provides variety

By Associated Press

The prequel to “Game of Thrones’’ is about to forge its personal storytelling path, with a brand new set of characters and a extra numerous staff behind the scenes.

“House of the Dragon” takes place two centuries earlier than the occasions of the unique collection, which ended its hit eight-season run in May 2019. The 10-episode prequel begins Sunday on HBO and might be obtainable to stream on HBO Max.

The story focuses on House Targaryen, made well-known in “Game of Thrones” by Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys and her fearsome dragons. But don’t count on “House of the Dragon’’ to be a remake of “Game of Thrones,’’ forged member Steve Toussaint mentioned.

“It’s been done and they did it exceedingly well,” mentioned Toussaint, who performs the very wealthy Lord Corlys Velaryon. “You know you’re in that world, but you’re seeing a different story, different characters, different motivations.”

Among the brand new faces within the clan is Prince Daemon Targaryen, performed by Matt Smith. His villainous character is much more advanced than he seems to be on first viewing, the actor mentioned.

“I think the reason I’ve had fun is because he’s maybe not just a villain,” he mentioned. “I think there’s actually a huge amount of fragility and depth and inner madness there. … It’s not black and white. It can go either way with Daemon at any point.”

Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire and Blood,” the drama was co-created by Martin and Ryan Condal, whose credit embody the 2016-19 sci-fi drama “Colony.” Condal is an govt producer and co-showrunner with director Miguel Sapochnik, who brings his expertise on “Game of Thrones” to the prequel.

“House of the Dragon,” very like its predecessor, focuses on familial succession with a feminine inheritor being missed. But Sapochnik notes a key distinction between the 2 collection: The staff making the prequel is extra numerous, together with a 50-50 cut up between female and male administrators, together with Sapochnik, Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel and Greg Yaitanes.

There was a aware push to be inclusive behind the scenes, Sapochnik says.

“We really tried to, as much as possible, hire as many female crew as we could, because we think that’s a really important shift that needs to be both recognized, acknowledged, acted upon, maybe give opportunities to people who don’t get opportunities,” he defined.

The staff making “Dragon” is equally as numerous, and — for the fantasy style — boasts a relative bounty of ladies within the writers’ room. The gender stability impacts the present’s story and tone, based on a few of its feminine forged members.

The collection opens with an aristocratic council naming Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) as inheritor to the Iron Throne, bypassing his older cousin Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best). But Viserys will need to have his personal inheritor, with desires of energy held by Daemon, his youthful brother, and Viserys’ daughter Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy performs the grownup model, Milly Alcock the youth).

“You definitely don’t feel like a device or a prop and you don’t feel like the sexy wench or the mother,” mentioned Olivia Cooke, who performs the grownup Alicent Hightower, longtime buddy to Rhaenyra. “You feel that you’ve got a fully-fledged character which is really nourishing to play.”

The ensemble forged additionally contains Emily Carey, Graham McTavish, Fabien Frankel, Rhys Ifans and Sonoya Mizuno.

Carey, who performs the youthful Alicent, calls the inclusion of ladies in all features of manufacturing a step “in the appropriate path” for the fantasy style.

Although nearly each feminine character faces misogyny, every is “still a fully fledged, three-dimensional female character,” Carey mentioned. “They still have multiple other story lines and a whole life away from that misogynistic story line. They’re not just put in the show to serve a purpose. And I think that’s what makes it so special.”

“House of the Dragon” screenwriter Charmaine DeGraté mentioned “it was essential for George (R.R. Martin, a prequel govt producer) for it to be this fashion. Female-driven characters, female-driven reveals and female-driven writers rooms simply kind of elevates the story. That’s an exquisite approach to broaden the universe.”

The prequel to “Game of Thrones’’ is about to forge its personal storytelling path, with a brand new set of characters and a extra numerous staff behind the scenes.

“House of the Dragon” takes place two centuries earlier than the occasions of the unique collection, which ended its hit eight-season run in May 2019. The 10-episode prequel begins Sunday on HBO and might be obtainable to stream on HBO Max.

The story focuses on House Targaryen, made well-known in “Game of Thrones” by Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys and her fearsome dragons. But don’t count on “House of the Dragon’’ to be a remake of “Game of Thrones,’’ forged member Steve Toussaint mentioned.

“It’s been done and they did it exceedingly well,” mentioned Toussaint, who performs the very wealthy Lord Corlys Velaryon. “You know you’re in that world, but you’re seeing a different story, different characters, different motivations.”

Among the brand new faces within the clan is Prince Daemon Targaryen, performed by Matt Smith. His villainous character is much more advanced than he seems to be on first viewing, the actor mentioned.

“I think the reason I’ve had fun is because he’s maybe not just a villain,” he mentioned. “I think there’s actually a huge amount of fragility and depth and inner madness there. … It’s not black and white. It can go either way with Daemon at any point.”

Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire and Blood,” the drama was co-created by Martin and Ryan Condal, whose credit embody the 2016-19 sci-fi drama “Colony.” Condal is an govt producer and co-showrunner with director Miguel Sapochnik, who brings his expertise on “Game of Thrones” to the prequel.

“House of the Dragon,” very like its predecessor, focuses on familial succession with a feminine inheritor being missed. But Sapochnik notes a key distinction between the 2 collection: The staff making the prequel is extra numerous, together with a 50-50 cut up between female and male administrators, together with Sapochnik, Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel and Greg Yaitanes.

There was a aware push to be inclusive behind the scenes, Sapochnik says.

“We really tried to, as much as possible, hire as many female crew as we could, because we think that’s a really important shift that needs to be both recognized, acknowledged, acted upon, maybe give opportunities to people who don’t get opportunities,” he defined.

The staff making “Dragon” is equally as numerous, and — for the fantasy style — boasts a relative bounty of ladies within the writers’ room. The gender stability impacts the present’s story and tone, based on a few of its feminine forged members.

The collection opens with an aristocratic council naming Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) as inheritor to the Iron Throne, bypassing his older cousin Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best). But Viserys will need to have his personal inheritor, with desires of energy held by Daemon, his youthful brother, and Viserys’ daughter Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy performs the grownup model, Milly Alcock the youth).

“You definitely don’t feel like a device or a prop and you don’t feel like the sexy wench or the mother,” mentioned Olivia Cooke, who performs the grownup Alicent Hightower, longtime buddy to Rhaenyra. “You feel that you’ve got a fully-fledged character which is really nourishing to play.”

The ensemble forged additionally contains Emily Carey, Graham McTavish, Fabien Frankel, Rhys Ifans and Sonoya Mizuno.

Carey, who performs the youthful Alicent, calls the inclusion of ladies in all features of manufacturing a step “in the appropriate path” for the fantasy style.

Although nearly each feminine character faces misogyny, every is “still a fully fledged, three-dimensional female character,” Carey mentioned. “They still have multiple other story lines and a whole life away from that misogynistic story line. They’re not just put in the show to serve a purpose. And I think that’s what makes it so special.”

“House of the Dragon” screenwriter Charmaine DeGraté mentioned “it was essential for George (R.R. Martin, a prequel govt producer) for it to be this fashion. Female-driven characters, female-driven reveals and female-driven writers rooms simply kind of elevates the story. That’s an exquisite approach to broaden the universe.”