Matt Smith promises his Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon won't try to copy its predecessor. The world created by George R.R. Martin in his Song of Ice and Fire book series is expansive in its size and history. It's no surprise that HBO, which brought the main series to the small screen with Game of Thrones, would seek to develop numerous spin-offs set within Westeros and its surrounding countries. House of the Dragon will be the first to break through the development stage; production kicked off earlier this year, and the first season is set to premiere on HBO next year.
While Game of Thrones centered on the warring houses of Westeros as they battled for control of the Iron Throne, House of the Dragon will have a different focus. Set hundreds of years before the flagship series, the prequel begins amid the reign of King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) and explores the history of House Targaryen, well before Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) took her first steps. In addition to Smith, who plays Prince Daemon Targaryen, House of the Dragon stars Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, and Sonoya Mizuno.
During an interview with CNET promoting his new film Last Night in Soho, Smith touched upon the challenges that come with a show like House of the Dragon - as in, one arriving in the shadow of an international hit like Game of Thrones. Smith described approaching a beloved property from a new angle as throwing "some paint at the wall and see what sticks," meaning newcomers have to bring their own style and plans to the IP. When it comes to House of the Dragon, the Doctor Who alum said that means it won't be trying to directly copy GoT. Smith explained:
I suppose that paint is your sort of attitude you bring in and see what sticks. We're trying to make a show that's entertaining on lots of different levels and has a similar scope and ambition to the previous show, in many respects. But obviously, you're never going to be able to re-create the success of Game of Thrones, because that was a very particular point in time. It was its own unique entity.
Though House of the Dragon will contain elements familiar to Game of Thrones fans, like Lannisters and an Iron Throne, there will likely be a good many differences between the two shows. Both are set in vastly different periods of time and focus on differing characters, so it stands to reason that House of the Dragon will be able to stand on its own. Co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik, who also directed episodes of Game of Thrones, recently hinted House of the Dragon will try to respect what its predecessor did while trying something new, largely echoing Smith's own comments.
House of the Dragon has some hefty expectations to live up to, and not just because it's the first follow-up to Game of Thrones. The original series had a famously divisive ending, and that has led to mixed feelings among fans regarding the entire franchise. However, Smith's assertion that House of the Dragon will try to offer different forms of entertainment suggests fans who were frustrated with Game of Thrones' ending will be pleased with the new show. Audiences will be able to find out for themselves next year.
Source: CNET
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