House of the Dragon is returning for Season 2 and the cast is teasing what viewers can expect when the show returns to HBO on June 16.
Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, and Matt Smith talked to Deadline and teased what is ahead for the fantasy drama, with Smith revealing that the show will be more like its older sibling.
For Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower, returning for the second season of the George R.R. Martin-created series was like a homecoming.
“We know the characters inside out, and we’re sort of going back home, in a way,” Cooke told us. “We’re not afraid of the text or afraid of the big sets that are sort of home away from home.”
Cooke teases that in Season 2, Queen Alicent Hightower leaves the castle with the actor saying, “That was huge for me. I went to Spain. I went to Wales and I went to Surrey. I’m excited for people to see me out of the castle.”
D’Arcy teased that “a huge motor of this season is grief,” adding that their experience with grief in their own life before starring in the HBO fantasy drama “was slightly surreal.”
Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole) on how it feels promoting #HouseOfTheDragon Season 2 now when they wrapped production on it “so long ago” pic.twitter.com/ffaqDRNAtM
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) June 4, 2024
“I did try to seek the good in being invited to reflect on what grief does to the body, to relationships, to one’s desire, to one’s psyche…,” D’Arcy added. “Part of the magic the [writing team] has constructed this season just how enmeshed the personal emotion is with the political designs. That for me is when the show really ticked.”
Smith teased that House of the Dragon will be different from the first season when the characters were all together, adding, “This time, it leans into the formula of Game of Thrones of old, where you’re out exploring different worlds and pockets of the world of Westeros.”
Harry Collett recalled that they filmed “such a sad scene” for Season 2 but “just ended up laughing” during production.
Bethany Antonia thought it was “phenomenal” shooting the dragon scenes describing the experience as “like making a music video.”
Ewan Mitchell teased how his character Prince Aemond Targaryen has evolved in Season 2.
Steve Toussaint told us about the most intriguing part about playing Lord Corlys Velaryon.
Fabien Frankel on promoting House of the Dragon.
Eve Best on what she found enticing about playing Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in Season 2 of House of the Dragon.