PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Center:'House of the Dragon' Season 3 is coming: What we know so far

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The "Game of Thrones" prequel series "House of the Dragon" will return for a third season, despite what USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler called an anti-climactic finale.

The HBO series, now streaming on Max and based on George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood" book, ended its second season on Sunday. The latest season, which premiered June 16, followed the ongoing fight for the Iron Throne of Westeros and was "uneven but often rousing."

Some fans were disappointed after what was seen as an abrupt and uneventful conclusion to the second season. But viewers should expect an action-packed third season, which is likely to kick off with a bang when it finally premieres.

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What will the plot of 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 be?

Fans anxious to see what happens next in "House of the Dragon" can read Martin's "Fire & Blood," which includes the entire storyline of the series.

But those let down by the lack of major battles in the Season 2 finale can take comfort in the fact that based on the book, a highly anticipated one should come early in Season 3, perhaps as soon as the first or second episode. Part of the reason some fans were disappointed by the finale is many expected this battle, plus one other major event from the book that's coming up soon, to occur in Season 2.

During a featurette that aired after Sunday's finale, showrunner Ryan Condal teased that while Season 2 was about the "fits and starts" of war, Season 3 will be "about total war."

'Could've been an email':House of the Dragon finale leaves fans wanting more

'House of the Dragon' renewed for Season 3

Despite fan disappointment with the Season 2 finale, the series isn't going anywhere, as "House of the Dragon" was renewed for Season 3 ahead of the Season 2 premiere.

"George, Ryan, and the rest of our incredible executive producers, cast, and crew, have reached new heights with the phenomenal second season of 'House of the Dragon,'" said HBO programming Executive Vice President Francesca Orsi in a statement. "We are in awe of the dragon-sized effort the entire team has put into the creation of a spectacular season two, with a scope and scale that is only rivaled by its heart. We could not be more thrilled to continue the story of House Targaryen and watch this team burn bright again for season three."

The series is led by Martin as co-creator and executive producer with co-creator, showrunner and executive producer Ryan Condal.

When does 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 premiere on HBO?

"House of the Dragon" Season 3 has not yet received a premiere date on HBO.

But on Monday, according to Variety, Condal confirmed that the season will go into production in early 2025. After the long wait between Season 1 and Season 2, fans shouldn't expect to see Season 3 before 2026. Season 2 began production in April 2023 and premiered in June 2024, so based on that timeline, Season 3 could be eying a return around summer 2026.

In the meantime, another "Game of Thrones" prequel series, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," will air on HBO in 2025. Based on Martin's "Tales of Dunk and Egg," it follows the adventures of a knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and Prince Aegon Targaryen. A brief teaser for the show was released on Sunday.

How many seasons will 'House of the Dragon' last?

In a press conference on Monday, Condal addressed how many seasons "House of the Dragon" will last. "I think it's four," he said, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Martin previously said he expects "House of the Dragon" to last at least four seasons.

"It is going to take four full seasons of 10 episodes each to do justice to the Dance of the Dragons, from start to finish," the author wrote on his blog in 2022. In January, Martin also said he had been discussing the "third and fourth seasons" with Condal and the show's writers. 

In a 2023 interview with Deadline, Orsi said the series will likely not have "any less than four" seasons and teased that there "could be more."

'Game of Thrones'star Kit Harington says Jon Snow spinoff is no longer in the works

Will there be any new characters in 'House of the Dragon' Season 3?  

For book readers, one of the biggest questions throughout Season 2 was when, or if, the show would introduce Nettles. 

In "Fire & Blood," Nettles is a major fan-favorite character who comes into play during the "dragonseed" storyline, in which numerous new dragonriders come forward. Described in the book as a "small brown girl" who grew up homeless, she was nowhere to be found in Season 2. The events of Sunday's finale strongly suggested that Nettles has been cut from the show, with aspects of her storyline given to Daemon's daughter Rhaena instead.

One character expected to be introduced in Season 3, though, is Alicent's other son Daeron. He has remained off screen for the entire series but was mentioned in Season 2, and his dragon Tessarion could be seen at the end of the finale, suggesting his proper introduction is imminent. No casting for Daeron has been announced.

How to watch 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 on HBO, Max

The Emmy-winning series airs on HBO. The show's first two seasons are also available to stream on Max, HBO's streaming platform, in full.

'House of the Dragon' cast members: Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, more

Read on for the cast of "House of the Dragon" Season 2 and their characters:

• Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen 
• Olivia Cooke as adult Alicent Hightower
• Emma D’Arcy as adult Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen
• Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
• Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
• Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
• Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria 
• Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower 
• Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon
• Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
• Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
• Phia Saban as Halaena Targaryen
• Jefferson Hall as Tyland and Jason Lannister
• Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
• Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle
• Elliott and Luke Tittensor as Erryk and Arryk Cargyll
• Bobby the dog

Contributing: Eric Lagatta