“House of the Dragon” became a smash hit for HBO but fans anticipating the second season of the “Game of Thrones” prequel will be waiting for quite a while…
“House of the Dragon” has become a legitimate smash hit for HBO as the “Game of Thrones” prequel consistently pulled in huge audiences from week to week.
The season finale saw 9.3 million viewers tune in to watch, which was the biggest audience for a finale since “Game of Thrones” completed its eight season run in 2019. The show was such a massive success that HBO wasted no time ordering a second season after the debut episode earned huge ratings.
Unfortunately because the show didn’t already get an early renewal, writers and producers had to get to work on crafting the second season with production on the show not expected to start again until next year. That means fans of “House of the Dragon” will likely be waiting quite a while before season 2 makes its debut on HBO.
“Don’t expect it in ’23, but I think sometime in ’24,” HBO CEO and chairman Casey Bloys told Vulture. “We’re just starting to put the plan together, and just like last time, there are so many unknowns. It’s not to be coy or secretive, but you don’t want to say it’s going to be ready on this date, and then you have to move it.”
The timeline for “House of the Dragon” season 2 to debut shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially given how long it took latter seasons of “Game of Thrones” to come together. Exhaustive shooting schedules across multiple continents complicate the production not to mention the vast effects that go into a show as huge as “House of the Dragon.”
Add to that, showrunner Ryan Condal has been forging ahead by himself after original co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik opted not to return for season 2 after working tirelessly to bring “House of the Dragon” to live for the first season.
There’s no exact word when filming will begin but it’s likely to start in mid-2023, which means a mid to late 2024 return for “House of the Dragon” seems likely, although again nothing has been cemented at this time.
For now, “House of the Dragon” is available for streaming with George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire and Blood,” which documents the first half of the Targaryen dynasty — and serves as the source material for the show — is available in bookstores and online as well.
