House of the Dragon season 2: Release date, trailers, plot and news

Season 2 will pick up where we left off after the dramatic season 1 ending, in which a shock death sparked vengeful desires from key characters and paved the way for the second instalment.

Showrunner Ryan Condal previously teased that the series will be more like Game of Thrones this time around.

Speaking at the Deadline Contenders TV panel back in April, he said: “I’m excited to pick up where we left off. Now we get to fall into the more traditional rhythms of storytelling and Game of Thrones. We’ve always talked about this particular tale, George [R R Martin] has too, of being a Shakespearean or Greek tragedy."

He continued: "This series is very much about a house tearing itself apart from within. Now that all those pieces have been set on the board, I’m really excited to tell the next chapter, to see what happens now that Viserys is gone and no longer keeping a lid on things.”

Alongside D’Arcy and Smith, most of the main cast, including Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), will be back in action.

There will also be a myriad of new faces in season 2, including Freddie Fox, who's playing Ser Gwayne Hightower – the son of Otto Hightower, Queen Alicent's brother, which also makes him the uncle of King Aegon, Queen Helaena, and Prince Aemond.

Speaking with RadioTimes.com exclusively on the red carpet for the BAFTA TV Awards 2024, Fox teased plenty of "dark relationships" in season 2 as well as "a lot of dragons".

Considering it has been confirmed that the Blood and Cheese storyline will be adapted in season 2, we shouldn't be surprised. The oddly named duo of assassins are at the centre of a particularly gruesome murder in the books, with Cooke warning viewers to "expect the worst" from their inclusion.

But who will be playing them, and what else can we expect from House of the Dragon season 2? Read on to find out.

House of the Dragon season 2 release date

House of the Dragon season 2 will premiere on 16th June 2024 in the US, meaning it'll be available from 2am on 17th June 2024 in the UK.

The news was confirmed when two trailers were released for the season on Thursday 21st March 2024.

This came after the June release window news was announced by JB Perrette – the president of global streaming and games at the studio – at a media conference Q&A, although an exact premiere date was not given.

"When we look at the next 12 to 18 to 24 months, we have all of our four biggest HBO tentpoles – House of the Dragon season 2 coming in June," Perette said, also referring to The Last of Us, Euphoria and The White Lotus.

HBO's Network Chief, Casey Bloys, previously announced that we can expect the new season this summer during press event, with a trailer of the upcoming season being shown to a select few there.

Previously speaking to Vulture, HBO Max's chief content officer Casey Bloys revealed: "Don't expect it in '23, but I think sometime in '24.

"We're just starting to put the plan together, and just like last time, there are so many unknowns. It's not to be coy or secretive, but you don't want to say it's going to be ready on this date, and then you have to move it."

The trailer, released in December 2023, confirmed the release window of summer 2024.

Filming for season 2 began in April 2023 and wrapped in September the same year.

How many episodes will there be in House of the Dragon season 2?

House of the Dragon season 2 will consist of eight episodes, two fewer than the first season's 10-episode run.

Discussing the reasoning behind the shorter second season, Clare Kilner told The Hollywood Reporter that season 2 has “eight wonderful episodes with so much happening in every episode, and we have trouble, at times, bringing them down to one hour".

She added that showrunner Ryan Condal made the choice “to give it a good opening and a good ending,” and teased that the episodes are “jam-packed with emotional and visually exciting events".

George RR Martin wrote on his blog previously that he was still "thrilled" that the show gets to have "10 hours every season to tell our tale".

He added that "it is going to take four full seasons of 10 episodes each to do justice to the Dance of the Dragons, from start to finish".

Who will star in House of the Dragon season 2?

House of the Dragon burned through a lot of actors in its first season, with numerous characters either being killed off or aged up over the course of 10 episodes.

However, the following members of the House of the Dragon cast are currently expected to return for the second season:

• Emma D'Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Olivia Cooke as Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower
• Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
• Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
• Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
• Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
• Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
• Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong
• Jefferson Hall as Lord Jason Lannister and Ser Tyland Lannister
• Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon
• Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen
• Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen
• Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen
• Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen
• Phia Saban as Queen Helaena Targaryen

We can also expect new faces to join the fray. The following will be joining the cast:

• Oscar Eskinkanzi as Prince Joffrey Velaryon - The third son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
• Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers - In the book Fire and Blood, Alys Rivers is rumoured to be a sorceress and becomes the lover of Aemond Targaryen and a bastard of House Strong.
• Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong - In the book Fire and Blood, Ser Simon is the uncle of Lord Lyonel Strong and great-uncle of Lord Larys Strong.
• Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower - In the book Fire and Blood, Ser Gwayne is the son of Ser Otto and the brother of Dowager Queen Alicent.
• Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull - In the book Fire and Blood, Alyn is a dragon rider who is said to be the bastard son of Lord Corlys Velaryon but legally the son of his son Laenor.
• Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark - Cregan is the young Warden of the North and the Lord of Winterfell, now a potential ally for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.
• Stark Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull - In the book Fire and Blood, Addam is a dragon rider who is said to be the bastard son of Lord Corlys Velaryon but legally the son of his son Laenor.
• Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome - In the book Fire and Blood, Ser Alfred is a knight sworn to serve House Targaryen.
• Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer - In the book Fire and Blood, Hugh is a blacksmith's bastard of Valyrian descent who becomes a dragon rider.
• Tom Bennett as Ulf White - In the book Fire and Blood, Ulf becomes a dragon rider.
• Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne - In the book Fire and Blood, Ser Rickard is a member of the Kingsguard and sides with King Aegon II Targaryen in the Civil War.
• Amanda Collin as Lady Jeyne Arryn - The Lady of the Eyrie and the Wardenness of the East, Lady Arryn is courted by Rhaenyra to be an ally.
• Sam C. Wilson as Blood - A mercenary who completes a dark task under orders from Prince Daemon Targaryen.
• Mark Stobbart as Cheese - A mercenary who completes a dark task under orders from Prince Daemon Targaryen.

It is uncertain whether Graham McTavish will reprise his role as Ser Harrold Westerling, as the character has no role in the civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, according to George RR Martin's book Fire and Blood. He was also seen to resign from the Kingsguard in the ninth episode of the season.

It is unlikely that we will see Paddy Considine reprise his role as the late King Viserys I Targaryen, who was in an awful state when we bid him farewell unless he appears in flashbacks.

The same can also be said for young Elliot Grihault as Prince Lucerys Velaryon, who met a bloody death in the finale.

The same is also true for Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as the younger versions of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, respectively, although that may irk fans, given the high praise both actors received.

"[They're] not a part of the story that we’re telling, yet. That’s not a thing that we’re doing right now,” said showrunner Ryan Condal (via Variety), who later added: "I'm not closing the door on anything."

We can likely expect returns from supporting characters, including Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle, Paul Kennedy as Lord Jasper Wylde, Phil Daniels as Grand Maester Gerardys, Luke Tittensor as Ser Arryk Cargyll, Elliott Tittensor as Ser Erryk Cargyll, and Roger Evans as Lord Borros Baratheon.

Additionally, there will inevitably be a plethora of new characters introduced in the second season.

Among the new figures who could be introduced are Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell and Lady Jeyne Arryn of the Eyrie, both of whom are mentioned in the season 1 finale and who would be strong potential allies to Rhaenrya. The Queen sent her son Prince Jacaerys to treat with them - will he succeed?

Another figure who is set to be at least mentioned is Alicent and Viserys' third son, Prince Daeron Targaryen, who was absent from the first season.

Condal told to Variety: "He does exist. No worries, everybody. He’s the youngest son. He’s warded off at Oldtown to Hobert Hightower and soon to Ormond Hightower, who is Hobert’s nephew, who becomes Lord of Oldtown.

"Honestly, this stuff happened all the time in this world. It’s not our modern day where if you had a 6-year-old, you would FaceTime them every day and see how they’re doing and write letters. He’s there. That’s the fact.

"When he is relevant to be mentioned — and he will be — he will be mentioned."

House of the Dragon season 2 plot: What happens next?

Picking up where season 1 left off, House of the Dragon's next chapter will dive headfirst into the devastating Targaryen civil war, known among fans as the Dance of the Dragons.

The conflict will see the citizens and nobles of Westeros side with who they want to see take the Iron Throne, with their options being Queen Rhaenyra I Targaryen and the young King Aegon II Targaryen.

Of course, Rhaenyra will want revenge after the horrifying death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon in the season 1 finale. If the series follows the book, expect a particularly brutal response to what happened.

Expect more gory violence to ensue as well as quieter, more emotional scenes as the human cost of the war is explored, which will take a particularly heavy toll on former friends Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower.

House of the Dragon writer and executive producer Sara Hess has also told The Hollywood Reporter that season 2 will examine the uncomfortable dynamic between Rhaenyra and her husband/uncle Daemon.

"Right now, we’re writing season two and figuring out, what is the nature of his relationship with Rhaenyra? There are many interpretations [in Fire & Blood] to that," she said.

The season finale certainly outlined the more toxic elements of their marriage. Is this a sign of things to come?

The second season will also dramatically open up the focus to the entire ensemble cast instead of the few central characters in the first run, but still stay grounded in the story of Rhaenyra and Alicent.

Showrunner Ryan Condal noted to Entertainment Weekly that the second run "does fall into that ensemble piece where you're following multiple characters. They're not all in the same place, but this is still very much a story of Alicent and Rhaenyra and their families pitted against each other.

"We're not gonna suddenly pull away from telling their stories. It's just the nature of this thing, in season 2, it really opens up the world in a big way and the sprawl grows quite a bit."

Showrunner Ryan Condal has also explained that they're upping the scale of the dragons in season 2, confirming to Deadline that there are five new fire-breathers on their way.

Plus, writer Sara Hess has teased that the new season will cover one of the most brutal storylines covered in the book A Dance of Dragons, known to fans simply as Blood and Cheese.

It concerns two characters who are hired by Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) and Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) to carry out a particularly nasty mission against Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) – with rather grisly consequences.

Asked in a recent interview with Variety if this plot point would feature in the second run, Hess responded: “We are currently writing the finale of season 2. I don’t think you will be disappointed."

The second season of the series is also compared to the third to sixth seasons of Game of Thrones in execution.

Is there a House of the Dragon season 2 trailer?

Yes! Check out the fiery, action-packed teaser trailer below.

Following this, two more trailers were released on Thursday 21st March 2024 - one for the Blacks and one for the Greens.

Here's the trailer for Team Black aka Team Rhaenyra.

Then there's the trailer for Team Green aka Team Aegon.

Read more:

• How to watch House of the Dragon – where can you stream?
• House of the Dragon planned to last three or four seasons
• When is House of the Dragon set? Game of Thrones timeline explained
• Where was House of the Dragon filmed?
• What is Dark Sister in House of the Dragon?
• What book is House of the Dragon based on? Fire and Blood book changes
• Your guide to the dragons of House of the Dragon
• Game of Thrones books in order: A Song of Ice and Fire and more

House of the Dragon season two will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK from 17th June – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.

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