As the Dance of the Dragons continues to escalate,House of the Dragonseason 3 gets a major filming update.House of the Dragonseason 2 endedwith Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent (Olivia Cooke) finally agreeing to work together to stop Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). As the Blacks and Greens continue their dance, the rest of Westeros is also poised to be drawn into the open fighting. While they do, new characters are going to be joining the already-expansive cast.
As theHouse of the Dragonstars prepare for the Emmy Awards, they reunited for a detailed panel about the show. Showrunner Ryan Condal took the opportunity to offer a major production update, in which he promised that the writing process is largely finished and that filming is scheduled to begin within the next few weeks. Condal also promised that “there aresome major new characters” in the fold. Check out his quote below, viaGold Derby:
Condal:[Writing is] essentially done and we start [filming] in a couple of weeks. As the actors embody the characters, it actually becomes much easier to write in a more interesting way, because you get to know everybody really well. For Season 3, there’s muchmore shape and depth to it right out of the gate, because you’re writing for people you know. There are some major new characters this season, but 85 percent of them, we already knew who they were, and it just makes it much more rewarding to write.
After Condal finished speaking, Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra) also hinted at a major storyline. They described wanting to see Rhaenyra finally appearing in action sequences, stating, “I got what I wanted, folks.” Condal quickly stepped in to stop the actor, emphasizing that “We’re on very, very shaky ground here.”
What This Production Update Means For House Of The Dragon
Rhaenyra Will Likely Be A Warrior
Season 3 oftheGame of Thronesspin-offis still a long way away since it’s not scheduled as the next release for the franchise on HBO’s calendar. Instead,A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knightwill be released in late 2025, which will then be followed byHouse of the Dragonseason 3. If season 3 follows the same production schedule as previous seasons,it will likely be released in the summer of 2026. Check out the chart below, which reveals previous seasons' schedules:
1
2
September 2023
June 2024
Even aside from the scheduling update,Rhaenyra’s newfound place as a warriorwill be a significant change. This season is expected to have more battles, includingthe long-delayed Battle of the Gullet. Rhaenyra and her dragon, Syrax, will be key in her attempts to reclaim King’s Landing from the Green faction. By finally casting Rhaenyra in that role, the show can embrace her place as a warrior queen. This is a direct response to criticisms of the previous season, which saw Rhaenyra consistently arguing against taking her armies to war.
Our Take On D’Arcy’s House Of The Dragon Update
This Is Amazing News
The production update is exciting but not unexpected sincea summer 2026 release was always the estimate. The most significant news is the presence of new characters. Condal promised that most are already known to the audience, which could be a hint that the long-awaitedPrince Daeron Targaryen may be joining the fighting. Daeron is the fourth child of Alicent and Viserys (Paddy Considine), but he has not yet appeared in the show despite references to his existence. Additionally, a greater appearance of the Northern army and other lords and ladies of Westeros are likely possibilities.
If D’arcy truly does get their wish, Rhaenyra will finally be able to take the offensive against the Greens.
The Rhaenyra news is also thrilling since her arc’s inconsistency throughout season 2 led to an underwhelming showing. Her refusal to enter open war meant that the Black faction spent much of the show standing on the sidelines. If D’arcy truly does get their wish, Rhaenyra will finally be able to take the offensive against the Greens. That would fulfill the promises inHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s ending, and it would also make Rhaenyra a far more compelling character.
