HBO has released the trailer for the third season of its acclaimed series House of the Dragon.
Planned as the penultimate season of the series, Season 3 is expected to cover some of the most anticipated moments from Fire & Blood, the source material written by George R. R. Martin. The novel is presented as a historical account of the Targaryen bloodline, while House of the Dragon focuses on the decline of the dynasty’s golden age and the fall of Targaryen supremacy.
In the trailer, several major events unfold simultaneously. Season 3 is expected to cover some of the most pivotal chapters from Fire & Blood and marks a significant escalation in the civil war between the Greens and the Blacks.
The season premiere is widely expected to focus on the Battle of the Gullet, which was originally planned for Season 2 before the episode count was reduced from 10 to eight. The Battle of the Gullet is a major turning point in the timeline, as the two rival factions of House Targaryen engage in full-scale conflict.
In brief, and with minor spoilers, a ship carrying Rhaenyra’s two sons is attacked by the Triarchy, now aligned with the Greens. The assault draws the Blacks into a large-scale naval battle between the Velaryon fleet and the forces of the Triarchy.
The Battle of the Gullet, however, is only one chapter in what promises to be a high-stakes season. Based on the eight-episode run, nearly every instalment is expected to feature a significant battle or defining moment. One of the most anticipated confrontations in the broader A Song of Ice and Fire timeline could also appear toward the end of the season, including a dramatic dragonback duel involving Daemon.
All of the actors from the previous seasons are set to return, but the show will welcome some new faces in the form of James Norton as Ormund Hightower, Tommy Flanagan as Lord Roderick Dustin and Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly.
The HBO trailer did not have an exact release date for the season, only teasing “June” at the end, which will most likely have the season end in early-to-mid August. In the meantime, if you’re still craving some action from the world of Ice and Fire, then check out A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms with the season finale airing this Sunday.
