Game of Thrones: HBO shares first photos of House of the Dragon table read as production begins

Star-studded photos have renewed fan excitement for the series

Game of Thrones fans will be happy to learn that there is finally official word on progress for the forthcoming prequel series. 

HBO has confirmed that House of the Dragon has begun production by sharing photos of the cast taking part in a table read.

“Fire will reign. The HBO original series #HouseoftheDragon is officially in production. Coming soon to @HBOMax in 2022,” reads the accompanying caption.

In the images, Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen), Paddy Considine (King Viserys Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alice Hightower), Emma D’Arcy (Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen), Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower) and Steve Toussaint (The Sea Snake) are seen at socially distanced tables, reading from individual iPads.

The cast also includes Sonoyo Mizuno, Eve Best and Fabien Frankel.

House of the Dragon follows the Targaryen family in Westeros. It takes place 300 years before the events in Game of Thrones. The series is based on author George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, published in 2018.

It is one of six separate Game of Thrones–related projects in development at the studio. 

Emilia Clarke – who starred as Daenerys Targaryen in the hugely successful original series – recently gave the prequel her blessing.

Clarke said that spin-offs were “inevitable”, adding: “Godspeed, everyone!”

As per HBO’s announcement, fans can expect to watch Game of Thrones on HBO Max sometime next year.