HBO’s House of the Dragon, a prequel to the hit fantasy series Game of Thrones, is coming back for a second season with a shorter episode count of eight, as confirmed by an HBO spokesperson. Although it was initially intended to have 10 episodes, the decision to have fewer episodes was made for story-related reasons, according to the spokesperson. Fans of the series can rest easy that the quality of the show will not be compromised by the episode count reduction, and that there is no indication of a cost-cutting motive behind the change.
The third season of House of the Dragon has already been mapped out, but it has not yet been greenlit. The creative team reportedly envisions three to four seasons for the prequel series, and its popularity makes it likely that the show will be granted the privilege. George R.R. Martin, the creator of Game of Thrones, has stepped back from Season 2’s development to focus on the bigger picture of the series, along with the show’s creative team.
House of the Dragon is based on Martin’s book Fire & Blood, which is set over 170 years before the events of the original series. It takes viewers back to a time when House Targaryen sat on the Iron Throne and the seven kingdoms were at peace. However, the first season laid the groundwork for the Targaryens’ downfall, making the “Red Wedding” seem like a minor family issue in comparison. The inner turmoil of the Targaryen family and their conflict with House Hightower makes for one of the most captivating television stories ever told.
House of the Dragon’s second season will begin production in the United Kingdom and aims for a Summer 2024 release, promising new dragons for viewers to enjoy. In the meantime, fans can catch up on House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones on HBO Max.
