House of the Dragon: Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy Join Cast

House of the Dragon has cast almost all of its main characters! According to Deadline, three new actors have joined the cast of the Game of Thrones prequel recently. Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, and Matt Smith have signed up to play various members of the Targaryen family, who participated in the civil war that led to the powerful family’s downfall.

The prequel takes place a hundred years before the events of the Game of Thrones and focuses on Danaerys’ ancestors. House of the Dragon will build-up to the war of the Dance of the Dragons, which shattered the peace of the realm. The war was mainly fought by the members of the Targaryen family over the throne of King Viserys I.   

Paddy Considine had already been cast as King Viserys I earlier. It is now being reported that Emma D’Arcy, who previously had roles in Truth Seekers and Wanderlust, is playing Rhaenyra Targaryen, the first-born and only surviving child from King Viserys’ first marriage. She is a fearless dragonrider of pure Valyrian blood and a perfect candidate for her father’s throne. Her only vice is not being born as a man.

British actress Olivia Cooke has been cast as Alicent Hightower, the king’s second wife, who possesses grace as well as a killer political acumen. She had one son with the king, called Aegon, and fights Rhaenyra so that her son can ascend the throne.

Matt Smith is playing Daemon Targaryen, King Viserys’ younger brother and heir to the throne. He is quite the opposite of the mild-mannered king – reckless and short-tempered; he is quick to take offence and act rashly. But he is a fierce warrior and is not ready to give up on his rightful throne.

With nearly all of the main characters being cast already, there is only one key character left. See Deadline tease the part with this tweet:

House of the Dragon goes on the floor next year. The ten-episode first season is scheduled to premiere in 2022.

Are you excited about House of the Dragon? Who do you think will be the perfect person to play the mystery role?

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