First look at 'House of the Dragon’ as HBO drop teaser trailer
We've got chills 🐉🔥
HBO has just released a teaser trailer for the much-anticipated prequel series House of the Dragon.
Based on George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, this series focuses on the history of the Targaryen family and is set two centuries before the events of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, which Game of Thrones was based on.
House of the Dragon will focus on a particular part of the Targaryen history: The Dance of Dragons. It was a bloody and brutal Targaryen civil war that takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones.
What do we know about Fire and Blood so far?
The trailer reveals short snippets of slow-motion fighting sequences, with a menacing voiceover from Prince Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith) saying “Gods, kings, fire and blood. Dreams didn’t make us kings, dragons did.”
Filming for the show was delayed to do the pandemic, but is back up and running now.
A handful of actors have been revealed so far…
Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen
Viserys was chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen. A warm, kind, and decent man - but as we’ve learned from Game of Thrones, good men do not necessarily make for great kings.
Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
Olivia’s the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, and the most attractive woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She possesses both a courtly grace and a keen political acumen.
Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
The Hand of the King, Ser Otto loyally and faithfully serves both his king and his realm. As the Hand sees it, the greatest threat to the realm is the king's brother, Daemon, and his position as heir to the throne.
Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
The king’s first-born child, Rhaenyra is of pure Valyrian blood and is a skilled dragonrider. Her only downfall is that she was not born a man.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
The younger brother of King Viserys and heir to the throne, Daemon is a peerless warrior and a dragonrider who possesses the true blood of the dragon.
We have no specific release date yet, HBO did tease at the end of the trailer that we can expect House of the Dragon to air some time in 2022.
WATCH: The teaser trailer for House of the Dragon 👇
The HUGE success of the original HBO show helped put Northern Ireland on the map, for both its beautiful landscapes and charming locals, but also for the film/tv industry.
It's crazy to think that the majority of filming took place inside Belfast's Paint Hall Studios. Towards the end of season 8, there were roughly 25 different locations used across Northern Ireland.
Do you know them all? Take a look 👇
Larrybane Quarry, Larne
The Stormlands
This retired quarry first introduced us to Brienne of Tarth, King Renly and his wife Margery Tyrell in season two.
Fairhead, Ballycastle
Dragonstone
Northern Ireland's tallest cliff face worked perfectly for Dragonstone. Jon Snow finally met Daenerys and her dragons here.
Saintfield, Co. Down
Battle of the Bastards/Battle of Winterfell
Hidden amongst the lush green pastures in the peaceful village of Saintfield, sits two landmark spots - specifically, the battlefields for the Battle of the Bastards and the Battle of Winterfell. Empty aside from a few barns, with a little imagination and a lot of CGI, these fields were once filled with giants and White Walkers.
Sallagh Braes, Antrim
You'll recognise the landscape from season 6, episode 7: The Broken Man, when the Hound was rescued by a band of villagers in the Riverlands after his brutal beating/stabbing by Brienne of Tarth and Arya Stark.
Shillanavoghy Valley, Antrim
Dothraki Sea
Just beneath Slemish Mountain the Khalasar departs Pentos and rides to Vaes Dothrak.
Ballintoy Harbour, Causeway Coast
The Iron Islands
Home to House Greyjoy – Theon Greyjoy returned home to the Iron Islands and this is where we first meet his sister Yara. Ballintoy also featured as the Free Cities where Varys was born.
Tollymore Forest, Newcastle
Throwback to the first season, fans will recognise this woodland where the Nightwalkers were first spotted and also where the Stark kids found the Direwolf pups. Numerous woodland/snowy forest shots were captured here too.
The Dark Hedges, Ballymoney
Kingsroad
A popular tourist attraction even before the Game of Thrones, this spot features as the grandest highway in Westeros. It runs from Castle Black at the Wall all the way south to the capital, King's Landing.
Murlough Bay, Antrim
Slavers' Bay
Davos Seaworth was shipwrecked and later rescued after the Battle of Blackwater Bay here at Murlough. This is also where Tyrion and Jorah come ashore on Slavers' Bay, only to be accosted by slavers
Quintin Bay, Portaferry
Stokeworth
One of the forgotten filming locations, Jamie Lannister tracks down Bronn at Stokeworth here before asking him to travel with him to Dorne.
Mageramorne Quarry, Antrim
Castle Black and Hardhome
This is the backdrop to Castle Black and Hardhome - while the entrances are real, the huge ice wall and snow were of course created digitally.
Binevenagh, Limavady
Dothraki Grasslands
In season five, Daenerys encounters a horde of house warriors here - the vast landscape and towering cliffs made for a menacing backdrop.
Inch Abbey, Downpatrick
Riverlands
Robb Stark's army set up camp here, as they waited at the Trident to cross. He was also crowned 'King of the North' here after the battle in the Whispering Wood.
Cushendun Caves, Antrim
The Stormlands
Fans will recognise the caves where the Red Priestess Melisandre gives birth to the shadow creature which ultimately kills Renly.
Downhill Strand, Castlerock
Dragonstone
Cast and crew transformed Downhill beach into the shores of Dragonstone, where those who defied the Lord Of Light were sacrificed by Lady Melisandre.
Glenariff, Antrim
Runestone
Littlefinger journeys through Glenarrif with Sansa to meet with Lord Royce and watch Robin Arryn training in The Vale.
Cairncastle, Ballygally
The North
The rugged scenery from the ruins of Cairncastle are used a couple of times throughout the show. In the first episode of season 1, Ned Stark beheads a deserter of the Night's Watch. The team returned in season 3 when Jaime Lannister is released from captivity and on the road back to King's Landing. Baelish also travels through the rolling hills with Sansa, on their way to marry Ramsey Bolton.
Quoile River, Downpatrick
River Run
The Riverlands are home to the Tully's and the scenes of Hoster Tully's funeral were shot along the River Quoile.
Portstewart Strand, North Coast
Dorne Coast
With miles of golden sands, Portstewart Strand was the perfect spot to recreate the most southern region of Westeros. Jaime Lannister and Bronn disguised themselves as Martell soldiers amongst the scenic dunes, to rescue Myrcella Baratheon.
Castle Ward, Strangford
Winterfell
One of the most iconic locations in the Seven Kingdoms, the 820-acre walled demesne of Castle Ward, County Down, provided a prime location for House Stark.
Pollnagollum Cave, Fermanagh
Beric Dondarrion's Hideout
Think back to season 3...this is the 'Brotherhood without Banners' secret hideaway.
Audley’s Castle, Downpatrick
Audleys Castle at Strangford Lough was chosen as a filming location for several scenes from season 1 and season 2. It is the backdrop for King Robert Baratheon's arrival at Winterfell in season 1 and Robb's Camp in season 2.
Toome Canal, Lough Neagh
Old Valyrian Canal
In Season 5, disgraced Jorah Mormont takes Tyrion prisoner, throwing him bound and gagged into a stolen boat and setting sail for Meereen.
Leitrim Lodge, Newry
North of Winterfell
Bran and Rickon Stark take refuge at Leitrim Lodge, in the crypts after Theon seizes Winterfell.
Dunluce Castle, Bushmills
Pyke Castle
The ruins of the medieval Dunluce Castle were used for many of the scenes for Pyke Castle - the House of Greyjoy in the Iron Islands.
Titanic Studios, Belfast
It is here that most of the fixed sets and indoor shoots are made and filmed.
Titanic Quarter, Belfast
On occasion, larger sets were constructed outdoors, including Kings Landing in season 8.
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