Everything We Know So Far About HBO's "House Of The Dragon"

August will be here faster than you can say "dracarys."

This week, HBO announced the official release date for its highly anticipated Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon.

HBO / Via giphy.com

Viewers can return to Westeros in August, which feels like a lifetime away, but is sure to be here quicker than you can say "dracarys."

HBO / Via giphy.com

With an official premiere date set in stone, a collection of new promo photos, and the promise of a 10-episode season, here are all the things we know so far about HBO Max's House of the Dragon:

1. The series will premiere on Sunday, August 21.

HBO / Via giphy.com

As mentioned above, HBO's big announcement this week was House of the Dragon's official release date. Game of Thrones fans who watched the original series in real time will recall those sacred Sunday evenings filled with white walkers and wildlings. 

While this show is certain to differ from its predecessor, there's a sense of nostalgia that comes with each episode released on a Sunday night. Plus, it's sure to spark great Monday-morning conversations with coworkers. Can't wait to discuss all things dragons with you, Barb.

2. The plot will focus heavily on House Targaryen.

HBO / Via giphy.com

Whether you want to consider this series a "prequel" or a "spinoff" is mere semantics. Fans will return to Westeros long before any Ned Starks or Cersei Lannisters set foot in the Seven Kingdoms, but the series will undoubtedly bare a major connection to HBO's first installment.

Centered around the dragon-riding ancestors of Daenerys Targaryen, we will get a glimpse into the dynasty sitting on the iron throne long before the events of Game of Thrones. In the original series, they make a concerted effort to let us know there are really no Targaryens left in the world except for the Mother of Dragons and, apparently, Jon Snow. 

Also, back in Season 5, little Shireen Baratheon (RIP) is reading a book called "The Dance of Dragons," which chronicles the civil war between Rhaenyra and Aegon Targaryen. Considering Rhaenyra has been announced as a House of the Dragon main character, I wager that we prepare ourselves for a fiery and dysfunctional bunch.

3. The characters will be loosely based on George R. R. Martin's Fire & Blood novel.

HBO / Via giphy.com

Like every good fantasy author, George R. R. Martin penned an entire book on events taking place before his actual series. Set hundreds of years before the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Martin's Fire & Blood is a comprehensive lineage of House Targaryen split into different volumes. It features stories of various family members throughout history and acts as the creative inspiration for House of the Dragon.

According to HBO, the TV series will be set 200 years before Game of Thrones and will include characters such as King Viserys (Paddy Considine), "a warm, kind, and decent man," Prince Daemon (The Crown and Doctor Who's Matt Smith), the king's younger brother, who is a "peerless warrior and dragonrider," Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), the king's first-born heir, and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), daughter to the Hand of the King. I think it's safe to say we are likely to meet a mad Targ or two.

4. There will be new creatives behind the scenes as well as familiar talent.

HBO / Via giphy.com

Alongside Martin himself, the series is created and produced by Ryan Condal, whose credits include the 2018 film Rampage (writer) and TV shows Hercules (writer) and Colony (producer). Executive Producer Miguel Sapochnik also has a hand in this new iteration, after directing various notable Game of Thrones episodes, including "The Battle of the Bastards."

We should all brace ourselves for an epic new opening credits sequence, and a bomb music score in general, with the return of Emmy Award-winning composer Ramin Djawadi, who created the music for both Game of Thrones and Westworld.  

5. We are likely to run into a few familiar families...

HBO / Via giphy.com

According to HBO, actor Jefferson Hall will portray both Tyland and Jason Lannister, a set of twins. Though the Targaryens will be the primary focus of this prequel, it's certain that we will run into a few ancestors of other key Game of Thrones characters as well.

The show's official cast and characters list says that Jason Lannister holds the title of Lord of Casterly Rock, while his brother Tyland can be described as a "crafty and calculating politician." Little does Tyland know, being a crafty and calculating twin runs in the family! 

6. There will be dragons.

HBO / Via giphy.com

If there's one area where we can count on House of the Dragon to deliver, it's the dragons. Most likely, our screens will be graced with a whole slew of new dragons as well as dragonfire, people riding dragons, people talking about dragons, and possibly dragons fighting other dragons. If this isn't reason enough to tune into the August 21 premiere, I don't know what is.