1. It Wasn’t Supposed to Be the First Game of Thrones Spin-Off Series
The firstGame of Thronesspin-off to be developed was a show calledBloodmoon, created by Jane Goldman and starring Naomi Watts and Jamie Campbell.
Set during the Age of Heroes—about 8,000 years before the events ofGame of Thrones—the show was intended to depict the events of The Long Night and the origins of the White Walkers.
ButBloodmoonwas ultimately canceled after its pilot episode—which cost more than $30 million to produce—received negative reception at HBO, clearing the path forHouse of the Dragonto become the first officialGame of Thronesspin-off to make it to air.
2. The Events Depicted in House of the Dragon Are Loosely Based on a True Story
As any hardcore fan ofGame of Thronesmight know, the original TV show and the originating novels were loosely inspired by the War of the Roses, a period in English history where several royal houses fought over the English throne in a war that lasted almost three decades.
Similarly, the Targaryen civil war depicted inHouse of the Dragonis loosely inspired by an earlier period of English history called The Anarchy.
In 1120, after King Henry I’s son accidentally drowned, he named his daughter Matilda as his heir and he made all the Lords of the Kingdom swear an oath to her. But after his passing in 1135, his nephew Stephen of Blois seized the throne, which unleashed a civil war for control of the kingdom.
3. The First-Season Budget Is Higher Than Any Season of Game of Thrones
According to reports, the approximate cost of eachHouse of the Dragonepisode in its first season was $20 million. That’s approximately $200 million for the entire first season.
It might not sound like a lot compared to the cost of other recent hit TV shows likeStranger Things($30 million per episode in season four) orThe Rings of Power($465 million for the entire first season), but it’s certainly one of HBO’s most expensive shows ever.
By comparison, the first few seasons ofGame of Thronesonly cost about $6 million per episode to produce, while the final season had a price tag of $15 million per episode.
4. House of the Dragon Will Feature Up to 17 Different Dragons Across the Series
Even though in pop cultureGame of Thronesis basically synonymous with dragons, the original show only featured three of these winged beasts. Daenerys’s children—Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion—stole the show and left audiences wanting more.
Fortunately,House of the Dragonwill live up to its name and feature up to 17 dragons in total. These flying creatures will come in all shapes and sizes, from relatively small dragons (like Vermax) to the biggest dragons the world of Westeros has ever seen (like Vhagar).
Much of the huge production budget is going towards giving each dragon their own distinct looks and personalities. Prepare to see a lot of dragons flying around Westeros!
5. Alicent and Rhaenyra Weren’t Childhood Friends in the Fire & Blood Novel
House of the Dragonhas made a lot of changes to its source material, but one of the biggest has been aging down Queen Alicent Hightower to make her a childhood friend of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Originally inFire & Blood, Alicent is nine years older than Rhaenyra and she first came to the Red Keep to help care for King Jaehaerys (the predecessor to the current King Viserys).
In the book, it’s never mentioned that Alicent and Rhaenyra were close prior to her marriage to Viserys. Fortunately, this change has proven to be a smart decision as it gives more depth to Alicent and Rhaenyra’s rivalry.
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6. The Showrunners Couldn’t Imagine Anyone Else as Daemon Targaryen
For book readers, Daemon’s rebellious attitude and bad-boy personality made him one of the most popular Targaryens in the franchise. So, naturally, there was a lot of expectation regarding his casting.
When news broke out that Matt Smith was chosen to play the rogue prince Daemon Targaryen, many fans were quick to express theiroutrageanddisappointment. They’d expected someone more traditionally handsome and muscular, like Henry Cavill or Alexander Skarsgård.
But in just his first episode, Smith proved why he was the right choice—by giving one of the best performances of the show so far.
It’s not so surprising in hindsight to learn that Matt Smith was always the showrunners' first choice to play the rogue prince. Ryan Condal (one ofHouse of the Dragon’s showrunners)revealedthat Matt Smith was the only actor in discussion for the role of Daemon Targaryen.
7. Co-Showrunner Miguel Sapochnik Isn’t Returning for Season Two
Miguel Sapochnik is no stranger to the world ofGame of Thrones. He directed some of the best and most iconic episodes of that show, including “Battle of the Bastards,” “The Winds of Winter,” and “Hardhome.”
Fans were relieved when he was announced as co-showrunner ofHouse of the Dragon, along with Ryan Condal. And with this first season, he’s proven why he was the right person for the job.
However, shortly after the series premiered, he announced that he wouldn’t be returning for season two, leaving Condal as the sole showrunner.
Although he will remain as an executive producer for the rest of the series,he was reportedly exhaustedafter three years of intense planning and development forHouse of the Dragon. Alan Taylor, anotherGame of Thronesveteran, will step in as director for the next season.
8. The Series Is a Huge Ratings Success
The first episode ofHouse of the Dragonwas watched by almost 10 million viewers on its first day, becoming the most-watched TV series premiere in HBO’s history.
After its first full week, approximately 25 million viewers had seen the first episode across all official platforms (which led HBO to officially renew the series for a second season only five days after its premiere).
The average viewership of the first five episodes has been 29 million viewers, which is massive for a premium cable show. By comparison,Game of Thronesaveraged 9 million viewers across its first season and 44 million viewers per episode across its final season.
Several Other Game of Thrones Spin-Offs Are in Production
Unsurprisingly, after the huge success ofGame of Thronesand nowHouse of the Dragon, HBO is seeking to develop more spin-off shows based on the world created by George R. R. Martin.
As of right now, several other shows are being developed:
Will they have the same level of critical acclaim thatHouse of the Dragonhas gotten so far? Only time will tell! But given the success ofHouse of the Dragonin the face of overwhelming skepticism, it seems okay to be hopeful now.
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