We might not know who will come out on top in the Dance of the Dragons, but we do know that House of the Dragon will be wrapping up with Season 4. Showrunner Ryan Condal confirmed this during a press conference on August 5, where he also discussed the mixed reactions to the Season 2 finale of the popular Game of Thrones prequel.
According to Variety, Condal, who co-created the show, announced that House of the Dragon will have a total of four seasons. If the show follows its current release pattern, fans can expect to see the series conclude by 2028. This aligns with what George R. R. Martin hinted on his blog back in 2022, suggesting that the Dance of the Dragons would be best covered in four 10-episode seasons.
Condal also noted that future seasons will likely follow the format of Season 2, which means they will probably consist of eight episodes each. He mentioned, “I haven’t had discussions with HBO about it. I would just anticipate the cadence of the show, from a dramatic storytelling perspective, will continue to be the same from Season 2 on.”
Despite some disappointment with the Season 2 finale, Condal assured that Season 3, currently being written and set to begin production in early 2025, will delve directly into the Targaryen civil war. He addressed why the Battle of Gullet, highly anticipated by fans, wasn’t included in Season 2. Condal explained that the show wanted to give this major action event the “time and space it deserves.”
He promised that the Battle of Gullet will be featured soon and emphasized that the show’s upcoming action scenes, including the Battle of Rook’s Rest and the Red Sowing, will be worth the wait. Condal likened the effort to producing multiple feature films per season, indicating that it takes time to deliver peak excitement and satisfaction.
Rhys Ifans’ brief appearance as Otto Hightower in the Season 2 finale suggests that his storyline will continue in Season 3. Condal hinted that there is more to come for Otto Hightower, although he was cautious about revealing too much.
In addition to House of the Dragon, HBO is expanding the Game of Thrones universe with a new prequel series titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg. Two other spinoffs, Aegon’s Conquest and an animated series The Sea Snake, are also in development.
