As if the new Game of Thrones series House of the Dragon wasn’t complex enough with its many plots and even more characters, it will soon also cause a lot of confusion with a big change over the course of the first 10 episodes. Because a part of the cast will be replaced by new actors after a few episodes exchanged.
Anyone who has carefully studied the trailers for House of the Dragon will have already noticed that the two main characters, Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, are each played by two different actors: inside. However, the series is not told in parallel on two time levels, but with a giant leap in time make a hard cut. But when is it?
House of the Dragon: What episode is the time warp in?
In the first episodes, the story of House Targaryen, which takes place about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, jump forward in time multiple times.
The reason is simple: The sprawling family tree of the Targaryen dynasty has to grow with each episode in order to keep the epic generational conflict to prepare for the dragon-riding family. Many important figures from the later war of succession for the throne, the dance of the dragons, are far from being born in the first episode.
© HBO
Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower
After the first 5 episodes, however, the fans already have to say goodbye to some of the actors they have come to love. The plot will episode 6 make a giant leap in time that according to the Hollywood Reporter whole 10 years includes. This is accompanied by an exciting one – similar to the Netflix series The Crown cast change.
The most striking thing is the recasting of the two main characters Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower or High Tower. Both are played by Milly Alcock and Emily Carey in the first five episodes only. From episode 6 Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke take over their roles. But there are other changes in the cast.
Not just Rhaenyra and Alicent: at least 8 other figures are exchanged
At least eight other characters will be recast in the first season of House of the Dragon thanks to the numerous time jumps. In the following overview you will find the names of the characters embodied by several actors – We have omitted their family relationships for spoiler reasons:
House of the Dragon – S01 Trailer (German subtitles) HD
Replacement after time jump in episode 6:
The two characters are a special cast Laena and Laenor Velaryon, who were already seen in episode 1 at the big tournament as children. The roles of the eldest children of Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) are canceled due to the numerous time jumps throughout the first season even by three actors each accepted.
A look at the cast announced so far suggests that it will be announced later in the season at least one more major time jump could give. Because these characters only appear for the first time in later episodes:
But you don’t have to worry about the entire cast of House of the Dragon being replaced. The time skip recast affects only the younger characters. Adult characters such as Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), King Viserys (Paddy Considine), Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) will continue to be played by their previous cast.
Podcast: Can the new Game of Thrones series House of the Dragon succeed?
Game of Thrones is one of the most successful series ever, but the finale was controversial. What does the new GOT series House of the Dragon have to learn from the original and can this series succeed at all?
At this point you will find external content that complements the article. You can show it and hide it again with one click.
In the new episode of the Moviepilot podcast, we discuss this question. We explain when the new GOT offshoot is playing, what to think of the cast around Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith and ask ourselves what House of the Dragon absolutely needs to learn from Game of Thrones (and what not).
*. . .
Which House of the Dragon characters have impressed you the most so far?