House of the Dragon season 2 release date speculation and latest news

The House of the Dragon season 2 release date is coming. Here's what we know about the fantasy series and the Targaryen family's return.

House of the DFragon season 2 release date: Rhaenyra and Alicent stand in the flames

When is the House of the Dragon season 2 release date? Who’d have thought that in 2023, we’d be excited for a Game of Thrones spin-off? Not us, that’s for sure, but it’s undeniable that HBO hit a home run with House of the Dragon.

Set centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, the show is set before the Targaryen family tree was brutally pruned by Robert Baratheon. Rhaenyra Targaryen and King Aegon II Targaryen want the Iron Throne for themselves and a willing to tear the Seven Kingdoms apart to get it. As the Targaryen war heats up, here’s everything we know about House for the Dragon season 2.

House of the Dragon release date speculation

House of the Dragon season 2 will premiere in “early summer” 2024, according to HBO Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys.

In all likelihood, that means July. So, start blocking out your calendars.

House of the Dragon season 2 release date

Who’s in the House of the Dragon season 2 cast?

Plenty of characters died during the events of House of the Dragon, but everyone who survived the start of ‘The Dance’ will return for the second season.

There are also a slew of new pieces on the chessboard/cheeseboard.

Expected House of the Dragon season 2 cast:

  • Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen
  • Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
  • Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
  • Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen
  • Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
  • Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
  • Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
  • Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
  • Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
  • Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
  • Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon
  • Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
  • Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen
  • Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark
  • Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
  • Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome
  • Kieran Bew as Hugh
  • Tom Bennett as Ulf
  • Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne
  • Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
  • Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong
  • Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower
  • Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
  • Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower
  • Robert Rhodes as Silver Denys
  • Sam C. Wilson as Blood
  • Mark Stobbart as Cheese

There are a few major characters whose casting hasn’t been announced yet either, including Sara Snow and Prince Daeron Targaryen, both of whom play a large role in the story to come.

Notably, the actor playing Cregan Stark (who will become a major player during the Dance of the Dragons) hasn’t been revealed yet. That said, there are rumors online that Tom Taylor, who you may remember from The Dark Tower film adaptation, will play Cregan.

Unfortunately, we don’t expect Paddy Considine to return as fan-favorite King Viserys, considering he died in the season 1 finale, nor will Elliot Grihault’s Prince Lucerys Velaryon appear (unless someone goes rooting through Vahgar’s droppings).

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Sadly, it’s also been confirmed by showrunner Ryan Condal that Milly Alcock and Emily Carey — who played Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, respectively  — are not part of the season 2 cast.

“[They’re] not a part of the story that we’re telling yet. That’s not a thing that we’re doing right now,”  Condal told Variety. Although there may be hope for a return in the future, adding, “I’m not closing the door on anything.”

House of the Dragon season 2 release date

What will happen in House of the Dragon season 2?

House of the Dragon season 2 will see the Targaryen Civil War escalate as the Greens and Blacks vie to control the Seven Kingdoms and the Dance of the Dragons begins proper.

According to numerous rumors online, season 2 will begin where the first left off, with Rhaenyra learning her son Lucerys has died. Overwhelmed with fury, Daemon will then arrange for the cutthroats Blood and Cheese to sneak into the Red Keep and murder one of King Aegon’s children.

House of the Dragon season 2

We also know that season 2 will see Jacaerys trying to recruit the Arryns and the Starks to the Black’s cause, although the latter may end up causing his family more grief than they expect.

According to set leaks, we can also expect to see the Battle of Rooks Rest and The Sowing. While we’re always excited to see a big battle, it’s The Sowing we’re most looking forward to. This bloody event saw several Targaryen bastards try and bond with the wild dragons of Dragonstone.

Many were eaten, but a handful managed to claim a beast for themselves, becoming powerful allies (and potentially enemies) in the battle against the Greens.

House of the Dragon season 2 release date: Vhagar devours Arrax

House of the Dragon season 2 trailer

The first trailer for House of the Dragon season 2 dropped on December 2, 2023.

It teases the confrontation that’s set to come between the two warring factions, with a focus on the Targaryen dragon riders and their enormous, fire-breathing, airborne steeds. It’s awesome and looks likely to continue the quality we saw in the first season.

Check it out below:

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House of the Dragon season 2 episode count

House of the Dragon season 2 will run for eight episodes.

For those keeping count at home, that’s two episodes less than we got in season 1, but there’s a good reason for the truncated series.

“There are eight wonderful episodes with so much happening in every episode, and we have trouble, at times, bringing them down to one hour,” director Clare Kilner explained during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “Ryan’s decision was to give it a good opening and a good ending, and they’re jam-packed with emotional and visually exciting events.

House of the Dragon season 2 release date: Matt Smith as Daemon

If you love House of the Dragon, then check out our list of the best Game of Thrones characters or take a look at our guide to some of the best Game of Thrones dragons, including Balerion the Black Dread, Syrax, Meraxes, Vhagar, Vermithor, Arrax, Caraxes, Seasmoke, and Meleys.

If you prefer your Tragaryens less scaly, though, you may enjoy our deep dive into the lore of Daenerys Targaryen or our look at where the Game of Thrones cast is now.