For all our grumbling about House of the Dragon’s first season—its elongated windup to events obvious from the jump, its textbook-plotted storyline, its delay of all things interesting and consequential—we have to say: when Ramin Djawadi’s score kicks in each week, we’re just happy to get another hour in Westeros. It takes us back to a simpler time, when we were sweet summer children in the spring of 2011. May the franchise go on. May it last generations and always give us something to complain about.
By now, as we wrap up Episode 10 and Season 1, the long-awaited civil war, the “Dance of the Dragons” has finally finally finally almost just about begun. While we thought the conflict between Aegon II and Rhaenyra over Viserys’ vacant throne would be more of a centerpiece to the season, we’ve instead come to see the show’s slower arc: Season 1, like a prologue of sorts, merely sets the stage for the two-year war that will decide the King of Westeros. (If you want to avoid Season 2 spoilers, stay away from articles summarizing the Dance of the Dragons.)
With such deliberate pacing, House of the Dragon seems poised for at least one more season and possibly more. It’s worth remembering that the events of the series, even after the time jumps, still puts the date over one hundred years before Daenerys Targaryen is even born—allowing for decades more of Targaryen drama, inbreeding, and dramatic conversation-ending hmmms.
Here’s what we know about the future of the series.
Is House of the Dragon Returning for Season 2?
HBO
Is milk of the poppy the best remedy for a king’s pain? The answer is yes.
Shortly after the premiere, HBO announced its plans to renew the series for a second season, noting its almost instant popularity; the series brought in the largest new series audience in HBO’s history. (But can we really call it a new series?)
There are also rumors the series will continue past Season 2 and into Season 3—rumors stoked by its star Matt Smith, who let plans slip on an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast for after the Episode 6 time jump: “Once we make the jump, we’re in. I’m pretty sure from then on there’s not any big huge time jumps, particularly next season and the one after.”
The one after. Hell yes.
When Will House of the Dragon Season 2 Come Out?
The UK’s BT reported that production on Season 2 has begun, with filming expected to begin in the summer of 2023. Filming for Season 1 began in April 2021, and the season then airing almost fifteen months later.
While the WGA or SAG-AFTRA strike may be causing a hiccup in U.S. productions, House of the Dragon began production in April 2023, and has no signs of stopping.
On May 8, author George R.R. Martin addressed fans’ concerns in a blog post and said the scripts have already gone through revisions, so the strike should have no bearing on production. He is a member of the WGA. “The scripts for the eight s2 episodes were all finished months ago, long before the strike began,” he wrote.
Furthermore, the concurrent SAG-AFTRA strike does not impact House of the Dragon, as the show is a U.K. production, not U.S. based.
Regardless, Martin has shared his support for both the WGA and SAG-AFRTA, and has made various blog posts on the subject. “Not much I can add to that, except ‘AMEN,'” Martin said in a July 22 blog post when SAG-AFTRA announced their strike.
What Will Season 2 Be About?
HBO
Thus far, the series has been working loosely off author George R.R. Martin’s doorstopper textbook Fire & Blood, a history book of sorts for Westeros and the Targaryens. The book includes all major events of Season 1 and the subsequent history, the events following the death of King Viserys I, including the ensuing civil war.
Season 2 will likely cover all or some of the next two years, 129-131 AC. That period will decide the successor to the Iron Throne. While it’s unclear how much of the civil war Season 2 will get through, we can likely expect, however, a more standard chronology, without time jumps. The characters and actors should be more or less set for the next season.
Who Will Return in Season 2?
Expect the same players as Season 1, representing the Targaryens, the Hightowers, and the Velaryons.
Season 2 is expected to also feature the Starks, with the northern family expected to play in important role in the upcoming civil war.
Joshua St. Clair
Assistant Editor
Joshua St Clair is an Assistant Editor at Men’s Health Magazine.
Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men’s Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine’s Vulture and Chicago Tribune.
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