This has been one series that has been speculated on by fans of its original inspiration ever since its mother series ended. The conclusion of “Game of Thrones” on HBO back in 2019 led to buzz on whether the other books written by George R.R. Martin in the same setting’s history will be adapted. Quite a number of series were proposed, all adapting past historical events of the main Westeros setting. Furthest along in development was “House of the Dragon,” based on material from Martin’s companion book “Fire and Blood.” It is set to premiere next year on HBO, which has a first teaser ready.

Yahoo News tells us that an initial trailer for HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” a prequel series to “Game of Thrones,” was released this past Tuesday, October 5 on sites such a YouTube. It features ominous visuals of what is to come, accompanied by a voiceover from cast member Matt Smith. Prominent in the teaser are shots of an ensemble of pale, silver-haired characters: the members of House Targaryen, who united the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros under the Iron Throne. Smith’s voice speaks of gods, kings, fire and blood, and how the House of Targaryen were able to rule unopposed because of dragons, not dreams.

“House of the Dragon” is set, according to the teaser, 200 years before the fall of the Iron Throne (as in “Game of Thrones”). This places it nearly a century after Aegon the Conqueror, first Targaryen King of Westeros, began his conquest of the continent. At a time when the rule of the Targaryens, aided by their fire-breathing dragon mounts, were at their strongest, a succession crisis will tear their House and the realm their ancestors built apart, and ultimately destroy the very dragons that their power rested on. Items such as the Hand of the King badge and the Targaryen royal sword Blackfyre are also prominent in the trailer.

Trailer narrator Matt Smith is cast as Prince Daemon Targaryen, younger brother to the King on the Iron Throne, Viserys I (Paddy Considine). Viserys did not inherit his kingship as his predecessor and grandfather died very old, and he was instead elected by a Great Council of Westerosi lords. While he groomed his firstborn child, Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as heir, his decision to remarry and father a son anyway would lead to the vicious Targaryen civil war called the Dance of the Dragons, a key event in Westerosi history.

The series also stars Emma Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno and Graham MacTavish (Netflix’s “Castlevania”). “House of the Dragon” premieres on HBO in 2022 and will also stream on HBO Max.

Image courtesy of Empire Online