The Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragonreturned for its long-awaited sophomore season in 2024, and now the HBO hit has been renewed for a third and fourth season. Based loosely on George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood from 2018, the series concerns the destruction of House Targaryen as they devolve into a massive civil war.
Set two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon‘s timeline explores the events that would shape the Seven Kingdoms many years later. Unsurprisingly, the debut season of House of the Dragon was a watershed moment for HBO with critics and viewers, especially after the disappointing finale of Game of Thronesin 2019.
However, despite the prequel series’ initial success, the network struggled to bring fans back to Westeros quickly enough, and House of the Dragon season 2 was mired in delays that stretched on for nearly two years. Despite that, the popularity of Martin’s epic fantasy universe hasn’t dulled, and HBO was quick to pick up House of the Dragon season 3, leaving the show’s future in little doubt.
House Of The Dragon Season 3 Latest News
As the upcoming third season continues to take shape, the latest news confirms House of the Dragon season 3’s 2026 release window. HBO exec Casey Bloys confirmed after the September 2025 Emmys that House of the Dragon season 3 will be “just outside” the 2026 Emmys eligibility window, which ends on May 31, 2026.
Those context clues indicate that House of the Dragon season 3 should arrive this coming summer, with June 2026 being the earliest estimate. Its long-awaited debut will follow close on the heels of the next Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is confirmed to premiere on HBO in January 2026.
House Of The Dragon Season 3 & 4 Is Confirmed
The rapidity with which HBO renewed House of the Dragon for its third season is a testament to the brand’s confidence in the Game of Thrones franchise. Coming nearly a full week before season 2’s debut, HBO’s renewal is a vote of confidence in a sea of uncertainty regarding the George R.R. Martin epic fantasy series as a whole.
Despite Game of Thrones spinoffs dropping like proverbial flies, House of the Dragon is a surefire hit that could indicate the direction of the franchise’s future.However, it’s not just season 3 that has been confirmed. House of the Dragon has also been renewed for season 4, which has been confirmed as the final season of the show.
While it’s not a huge surprise that the show was renewed, it may be surprising to some that the show will end after only 4 seasons in total — especially given the depth of the source material in Fire and Blood, and the eight-season length of Game of Thrones. However, George R.R. Martin has said on his blog they would need “four full seasons of 10 episodes each to do justice” to the Dance of the Dragons, which HBO has met in regard to season count.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Production Status
In a press conference in August 2024, showrunner and co-creator Ryan Condal confirmed that the show was in the process of being written, and would go into production “earlyish 2025.” Production then officially began in March 2025, with House of the Dragon season 3 filming in locations such as England and Wales.
In August 2025, House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke confirmed to Screen Rant that production on season 3 wraps in October 2025. As such, the series will still be in production for the next few weeks, after which point HBO will hopefully announce an official release date for the anticipated season.
House Of The Dragon Season 3 Cast
Though House of the Dragon and its predecessor are known for their wanton bloodshed, the main core of important characters survived the first act of the so-called “Dance of the Dragons.” This means the bulk of the ensemble is expected to return in season 3, including Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen. Other major figures like Matt Smith’s Daemon and Olivia Cooke’s Alicent Hightower will also be back.
The cast of season 3 has already begun to grow, and James Norton (Grantchester) has been tapped to play the role of Ormund Hightower. An important member of the powerful House Hightower, Ormund is a key figure in the war for Team Green.
Other important figures were added with Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy) as Ser Roderick Dustin and Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts) as Ser Torrhen Manderly. Flanagan’s Ser Dustin is a fierce warrior and head of the Dustin house, while Ser Manderly is an articulate and intelligent knight from the North. Both will side with the Blacks in season 3.
More newcomers joined the cast with Andor alum Joplin Sibtain as Ser “Bold” John Roxton, the head of Team Green’s Roxton family. Furthermore, Tom Cullen (Downton Abbey) will play the role of City Watch knight Ser Luthor Largent, Sandman star Barry Sloane is Queensguard knight Ser Adrian Redfort, and Annie Shapero (Red Skies) as Alysanne “Black Aly” Blackwood.
Ser Luthor’s allegiances are a bit more nebulous, but Ser Adrian is a staunch supporter of the Blacks in the book. Meanwhile, House of the Dragon‘s Alysanne Blackwood is a more notorious figure as one of the fiercest female warriors and noblewomen supporting Rhaenyra’s Team Black.
The presumptive cast of House of the Dragonseason 3 includes:
|
Actor |
House Of The Dragon Role |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Emma D’Arcy |
Rhaenyra Targaryen |
 |
|
Tom Glynn-Carney |
Aegon II Targaryen |
 |
|
Matt Smith |
Daemon Targaryen |
 |
|
Rhys Ifans |
Otto Hightower |
 |
|
Olivia Cooke |
Alicent Hightower |
 |
|
Fabien Frankel |
Criston Cole |
 |
|
Steve Toussaint |
Corlys Velaryon |
 |
|
Sonoya Mizuno |
Mysaria |
 |
|
Ewan Mitchell |
Aemond Targaryen |
 |
|
Phia Saban |
Helaena Targaryen |
 |
|
Harry Collett |
Jacaerys Valaryon |
 |
|
James Norton |
Ormund Hightower |
 |
|
Tommy Flanagan |
Ser Roderick Dustin |
 |
|
Dan Fogler |
Ser Torrhen Manderly |
 |
|
Joplin Sibtain |
Ser “Bold” John Roxton |
 |
|
Tom Cullen |
Ser Luthor Largent |
 |
|
Barry Sloane |
Ser Adrian Redfort |
 |
|
Annie Shapero |
Alysanne Blackwood |
 |
House Of The Dragon Season 3 Story Details
Though the Dance of the Dragons began in earnest during season 2, the battles and gore will truly commence in season 3. A series of ups and downs plagued both the Greens and Blacks in House of the Dragon season 2‘s ending, and in typical George R.R. Martin fashion, more twists are expected.
Rhaenyra suffered heavy losses in the first engagement, but the return of Daemon and the Riverlands gives her more firepower. Meanwhile, Aegon fled King’s Landing with Larys as his life was in imminent jeopardy. Overall, bloodshed, battle, and tragedy can be expected on all fronts of season 3’s story.
Of course, the larger details of what will happen next are laid out in the book, and there are some major battles to look forward to, including the anticipated Battle of the Gullet. One of the biggest questions is going to be how seasons 3 and 4 will split the remaining Dance, and at which point the show will cut the story off.
However it concludes, this will not be the end for Westeros on HBO – as another spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is also set to debut in 2026. Since A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows House Targaryen about 70 years after House of the Dragon‘s story and nearly 90 years before Game of Thrones, some spoilers can potentially be expected before season 3 regarding how the Dance plays out.
- Release Date
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August 21, 2022
- Network
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HBO
- Directors
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Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel
- Writers
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Gabe Fonseca
-
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Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole
