The Game Of Thrones Prequel, 'House of the Dragon' Has Cast Three Major Roles

Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One), Emma D'Arcy (Wanderlust) and Matt Smith (The Crown, Dr. Who) have been tapped to star in the straight-to-series drama. Additionally, Greg Yaitanes (Banshee) has boarded as a director and co-exec producer, with Clare Kilner (Snowpiercer) and Geeta Patel (The Witcher) also set to helm episodes of the fantasy series.

For those of you that are unaware of the series or don't know what it is about, it is a series based on the GRRM book 'Fire and Blood' and it set 300 years before the events of the series we all know and love/despise. There is no premier timeline YET for it, and the only thing we know is that Paddy Constantine has already been cast as Viserys Targaryen.

I know Olivia Cooke and Matt Smiths works very well, and am especially a huge fan of the former. She recently got my waterworks going hardcore in 'Sound of Metal', which was fantastic and one of the best movies of the year (you can stream it on amazon prime for free (with your membership)). Smith was fantastic in the Crown but many people know him from his time as Doctor Who. I don't know D'Arcy as well, but I did like her in the Nick Frost series 'Truth Seekers'. The one thing they have in common is that all three of them have a VERY Game of Thrones'ey look to them.

I don't mean to post half the article, but this is the description of their roles straight from the source. 

Cooke will play Alicent Hightower, who is described by HBO as "the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, and the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace and a keen political acumen."

D’Arcy is set as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, described as "the king’s first-born child, she is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything … but she was not born a man."

Smith will portray Prince Daemon Targaryen, who is the "younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne.  A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon.  But it is said that whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air."

The Targaryen and their freaky Hapsburgian history is some of the coolest shit from the series along with the Dragons, of course. And while GOT may have ended on an incredibly bad note, I think HBO is smart enough to know that they have to win some of our trust back. Bringing in a director from 'The Witcher', which obviously fits heavily into the GoT venn diagram, is a brilliant move. As is getting a director from 'Banshee', which is an incredible show starring Antony Starr aka Homelander from 'The Boys'.

It's too early to speculate on if it will be good or bad, but like I said, they know they need to win some goodwill back from us. I have high hopes and I can't wait for them to be dashed.