Anyone who was hoping for familiar faces from “Game of Thrones” in the “House of the Dragon” spin-off will be disappointed: the fantasy series is not a classic prequel that tells the direct story, but takes place 200 years before. There was at least a small reunion with an actor in the last episode, albeit in a different role.
The third episode, “The Second of His Name,” features identical Lannister twins Jason and Tyland – both played by actor Jefferson Hall. Hall made a brief but pivotal appearance in the first season of Game of Thrones, when Hall played Ser Hugh, the squire of the King’s late Hand, Jon Arryn.
Fans remember: When Hugh was killed again in a tournament, Eddard Stark, Arryn’s successor, became suspicious and began investigating. These set in motion a chain of events that was crucial for the entire series.
Hall spoke up “Entertainment Tonight” about his role – more precisely: his roles – in the spin-off. “I was very excited when I got the offer and obviously there’s a lot of pressure because they were very much loved characters as well as hated and very popular,” Hall said of playing members of the Lannister family.
Showrunner and director Miguel Sapochnik spoke about wanting to give fans what they want, but also something new at the same time. In Jason and Tyland he put “tiny little drops” of Tyrion and Cersei Lannister from the main series. “But fundamentally, realistically, it’s so far away. It’s about the beginning of the house [Lannister]before they achieved the power they achieved in Game of Thrones.”
The first season of House of the Dragon is currently airing. In Germany, the HBO production can be seen on Sky. A second season has already been approved, HBO commissioned it right after the first episode aired. But there is a change in the previous two behind the series: Miguel Sapochnik stops as showrunner, screenwriter Ryan Condal continues alone.