A few House of the Dragon major characters will be recast during the season. Two episodes of the Game of Thrones prequel show have aired and the tension between the Targaryens is growing. Mild spoilers below.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock), daughter of King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine), has been appointed heir to the Iron Throne. Visery’s cousin, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) has gone rogue due to his disappointment to not being appointed heir. King Viserys and Prince Daemon are already of age but Rhaenyra, who is only 14 years old, will grow into adulthood during the season. This means Rhaenyra, among other House of the Dragon major characters, will have older actors playing them so don’t get too attached to the current actors.
There will actually be four House of the Dragon major characters being recast midway through season 1. Along with Rhaenyra, Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), Laena Velaryon (Nova Foueillis-Mosé) and Laenor Velaryon (Theo Tate) — daughter and son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen — will all be growing into adulthood throughout the season.
The Game of Thrones prequel show co-creator Ryan Condal tells Insider that the decision to recast these House of the Dragon major characters was made “early on,” explaining “It’s a conceit but I think it does work, having watched it a bunch of times. The people that are truly children in this are the ones that get recast. And the people that are already adults when we meet them, we age them up through hair and makeup and sometimes the actors change their voice.”
Emma D’Arcy will take over as Rhaenyra who is currently played by Milly Alcock. Rhaenyra’s best friend turned step-mom Alicent will be played by Olivia Cooke later on in the season.
Meanwhile Nanna Blondell will take over as Laena Velaryon and John Macmillan will take over Laenor Velaryon duties from Tate.
HBO released a photo of Olivia and Emma as two of the House of the Dragon major characters and the resemblance to their predecessors is uncanny.
New House of the Dragon episodes air every Sunday at 9 P.M. ET on HBO.
