George RR Martin on House of the Dragon: “I love what I’ve seen”
Creator of the world of Westeros George RR Martin has given the thumbs up to HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, saying he’s seen rough cuts of all ten episodes and that “I love what I’ve seen.”
The fantasy author, currently finishing The Winds of Winter, the sixth book in the Song of Ice and Fire series which inspired the Game of Thrones TV series, wrote on his blog that the showrunners and their “amazing cast and crew have done some magnificent work” on the hotly anticipated fantasy series which arrives on Sky and NOW in the UK on Monday 22nd August at 2am.
“I’ve seen all ten episodes now (albeit in rough cuts), and I love what I’ve seen.
“Ryan and Miguel [showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik] and their amazing cast and crew have done some magnificent work. Hot D is all I hoped it would be; dark, powerful, visceral, disturbing, stunning to look at, peopled with complex and very human characters brought to life by some truly amazing actors.”
He added: “(Oh, and FIRE & BLOOD is back on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list, and rocketing up every week. I wonder if there is any connection).”
Martin’s reference is to his 2018 novel Fire and Blood, on which House of the Dragon is based. The story is set several hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones and details a civil war in Westeros known as the Dance of the Dragons between rival factions of the Targaryen family. This would ultimately lead to the downfall of the dynasty and the further battles for the Iron Throne which we see unfold in Game of Thrones.
The show stars a heavyweight cast including former Doctor Who Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower and Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower amongst many others.
And just like buses, you wait all year for a huge budget fantasy hit on TV, and then two come along at once. Because just a week after the launch of House of the Dragon, Prime Video will be launching their own fantasy series in the shape of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which will be available to watch in the UK on Prime Video from 2am on 2nd September.
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