“It’s like Succession with dragons”: House of the Dragon Explains How Prequel Series is Different From Game of Thrones, Says Succession and The Crown Were Major Influences
The show Game of Thrones, with its legendary cast of Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, and Emilia Clarke among others, was set in the mythical land of Westeros where kingdoms and families battled each other to gain control over the majestic Iron Throne. After the last episode aired in May 2019, the eight-season chronicle came to an end with fans wanting more of the turmoil and bloodshed that infused the drama series. Much to the delight of the Thronies, in October 2020, HBO announced a GOT prequel about the Targaryens, called House of Dragons. The new HBO series is based on George RR Martin’s, Fire and Blood, set almost 10 generations before the Khaleesi era. The Informer star, Paddy Considine is said to take the lead role as King Viserys Targaryen. Showrunner Ryan Condol shares his views as the upcoming series is compared to Succession and The Crown.
Miguel Sapochnik, who has directed most of the ambitious episodes of GOT will be working alongside Ryan Condal as the Director. We shall also get to witness the inciting composer Ramin Djawadi blow our minds with his piano notes, similar to the music in GOT. After watching the trailer of the GOT prequel, many claim it to be “Succession with dragons“, including Ryan Condal.
House of Dragons looked at Succession and The Crown for inspiration
In a recent interview with SFX, when asked if the GOT prequel is like “Succession with dragons“, screenwriter and executive producer, Ryan Condal agrees with the comparison and says, “Yeah, I think that’s actually a great metaphor, and the things we referenced in the [writers’] room the most were The Crown and Succession, just as tonal analogs and as shows that we, the writers, were really enjoying and immersed in”.
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Started in 2018 and already a recipient of multiple Emmys, Succession revolves around the dysfunctional Roy family fighting to gain control over the company, Waystar Royco. The Crown on the other hand is all about the British royal family when King George VI ascends the throne to Queen Elizabeth II. The House of Dragons will have a little of both and of course, more dragons! Hopefully.
Also read: Game Of Thrones Storylines That Led Us Absolutely Nowhere
House of Dragons is set 200 hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones
Set, almost 10 generations before the story of Game of Thrones begins, the prequel is all about King Viserys, the fifth king of the Targaryen Dynasty left with the difficult task of choosing his next heir to the Iron Throne while conflict springs among his brother and all of his children, including his firstborn, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Explaining the premise, Ryan Condal says, “This, however, is the Dance of the Dragons. It’s a civil war that happens within a singular family, which in a way makes it much more engrossing and tragic because you see people who are blood relatives turning against each other and going to war.”
With companions such as Succession and The Crown, the new prequel that airs on HBO on the 21st of this month can be expected to impress the audience just as these shows did.
Source: Screen Rant
