HBO's new fantasy drama and the much-awaited spinoff of 'Game of Thrones', 'House of the Dragon', is out in the wild. And as per media reports, the premiere episode has undone everything the network has ever released. As per the New York Times, HBO said the episode, titled "The Heirs of the Dragon", clocked an incredible 10 million views across various platforms, including HBO (cable network) and HBO Max. This is more than any 'Game of Thrones' episode, even the series finale and any of the season finales. This is interesting as it means the fans are still into the franchise despite the way the original series ended.&nbsp;

Co-created by &nbsp;Ryan J. Condal and George RR Martin, the originator of the books on which the series are based, the show takes place hundreds of years before the original story. While 'House of the Dragon' also features a struggle for the Iron Throne, this one is a conflict within the Targaryen house. And this one has lots of dragons since 200 years before Robert's Rebellion, dragons had not gone extinct, but only the Targaryens had them.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-premiere-review-not-as-fun-as-game-of-thrones-but-still-pretty-damn-good-509039">'House of the Dragon' premiere review: Not as fun as 'Game of Thrones', but still pretty damn good</a>

The story is based on the book by George RR Martin called 'Fire &amp; Blood'. It explores a seminal event in the history of Westeros called the Dance of Dragons in which Targaryen rivals fought a bitter yet spectacular war involving massive dragon battles.

Paddy Considine (Viserys Targaryen), Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Milly Alcock (young Rhaenyra), &nbsp;Emily Carey (young Alicent), , Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon), Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen), Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole), and Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria) star in 'House of the Dragon'.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
WION's review of the premiere episode read, 'House of the Dragon' is no match for the early 'Game of Thrones' as the characters and the plot are not nearly interesting enough yet, but it also feels fresh despite it all being the same world. The stakes here are also higher than, say, the first couple of seasons of 'GoT'. The subsequent episodes should deliver in the spectacle aspect after the fantasy version of dogfights (dragon-on-dragon combat) ensue." 
&nbsp;

HBO's new fantasy drama and the much-awaited spinoff of 'Game of Thrones', 'House of the Dragon', is out in the wild. And as per media reports, the premiere episode has undone everything the network has ever released.

HBO's new fantasy drama and the much-awaited spinoff of 'Game of Thrones', 'House of the Dragon', is out in the wild. And as per media reports, the premiere episode has undone everything the network has ever released. As per the New York Times, HBO said the episode, titled "The Heirs of the Dragon", clocked an incredible 10 million views across various platforms, including HBO (cable network) and HBO Max. This is more than any 'Game of Thrones' episode, even the series finale and any of the season finales. This is interesting as it means the fans are still into the franchise despite the way the original series ended. Co-created by Ryan J. Condal and George RR Martin, the originator of the books on which the series are based, the show takes place hundreds of years before the original story. While 'House of the Dragon' also features a struggle for the Iron Throne, this one is a conflict within the Targaryen house. And this one has lots of dragons since 200 years before Robert's Rebellion, dragons had not gone extinct, but only the Targaryens had them. Also Read: 'House of the Dragon' premiere review: Not as fun as 'Game of Thrones', but still pretty damn good The story is based on the book by George RR Martin called 'Fire & Blood'. It explores a seminal event in the history of Westeros called the Dance of Dragons in which Targaryen rivals fought a bitter yet spectacular war involving massive dragon battles. Paddy Considine (Viserys Targaryen), Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Milly Alcock (young Rhaenyra), Emily Carey (young Alicent), , Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon), Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen), Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole), and Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria) star in 'House of the Dragon'. WION's review of the premiere episode read, 'House of the Dragon' is no match for the early 'Game of Thrones' as the characters and the plot are not nearly interesting enough yet, but it also feels fresh despite it all being the same world. The stakes here are also higher than, say, the first couple of seasons of 'GoT'. The subsequent episodes should deliver in the spectacle aspect after the fantasy version of dogfights (dragon-on-dragon combat) ensue."

'House of the Dragon' premiere creates HBO viewership record, clocks 10 million views

A new featurette from the upcoming HBO fantasy drama series 'House of the Dragon' is here. The five-and-a-half-minute clip has the co-creator of the show and the originator of this entire world George RR Martin explaining the show's extensive cast of characters. 'House of the Dragon' is a spinoff and a prequel to 'Game of Thrones' and takes 200 years before the events of 'GoT'. The story is based on a seminal event in the history of the Targaryens in Westeros called Dance of the Dragons that arose over competing claims on the Iron Throne.

While in 'Game of Thrones', the struggle for the Iron Throne was between different houses, here the conflict is among the Targaryens themselves, who have not yet been reduced to what they become in 'GoT' (just two members -- Viserys and Daenerys).

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qZX5JXJ8UoQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

In the video, Martin says, "The best fiction, the best drama, is about characters. The story of House of the Dragon is a story about very flawed human beings, capable of doing good things, capable of doing monstrous things, capable of courage, capable of cowardice. These are the kinds of characters that I love the most."

He also explains the Hightowers, a house rarely seen in 'Game of Thrones' but has been one of the most important houses in Westeros for centuries. The house plays an important role in 'House of the Dragon'.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DotnJ7tTA34" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"In terms of the history of Westeros, the Hightowers are the oldest. They’ve been there for thousands of years. Their seat of power is Old Town, which was for many thousands of years the biggest city in Westeros. They are a very rich house, Old Town is wealthy from trade mostly. And in the center of it is the High Tower, from which Hightowers take their name," says Martin.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-house-of-the-dragon-trailer-hbo-series-promises-fiery-dragon-battles-in-an-older-struggle-for-iron-throne-499323">'House of the Dragon' trailer: HBO series promises fiery dragon battles in an older struggle for Iron Throne</a>

In 'House of the Dragon', Paddy Considine plays the role of the reigning monarch King Viserys I Targaryen. His eldest child is a daughter called Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), an ambitious individual who does not hold with the norm that only men can rule the realm. The king's younger brother &nbsp;Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) also has designs on the throne. Also involved are Lady Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), and his wife Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best), among others.

'House of the Dragon' releases on August 21. 
&nbsp;

A new featurette from the upcoming HBO fantasy drama series 'House of the Dragon' is here. The five-and-a-half-minute clip has the co-creator of the show and the originator of this entire world George RR Martin explaining the show's extensive cast of characters.

A new featurette from the upcoming HBO fantasy drama series 'House of the Dragon' is here. The five-and-a-half-minute clip has the co-creator of the show and the originator of this entire world George RR Martin explaining the show's extensive cast of characters. 'House of the Dragon' is a spinoff and a prequel to 'Game of Thrones' and takes 200 years before the events of 'GoT'. The story is based on a seminal event in the history of the Targaryens in Westeros called Dance of the Dragons that arose over competing claims on the Iron Throne. While in 'Game of Thrones', the struggle for the Iron Throne was between different houses, here the conflict is among the Targaryens themselves, who have not yet been reduced to what they become in 'GoT' (just two members -- Viserys and Daenerys). In the video, Martin says, "The best fiction, the best drama, is about characters. The story of House of the Dragon is a story about very flawed human beings, capable of doing good things, capable of doing monstrous things, capable of courage, capable of cowardice. These are the kinds of characters that I love the most." He also explains the Hightowers, a house rarely seen in 'Game of Thrones' but has been one of the most important houses in Westeros for centuries. The house plays an important role in 'House of the Dragon'. "In terms of the history of Westeros, the Hightowers are the oldest. They’ve been there for thousands of years. Their seat of power is Old Town, which was for many thousands of years the biggest city in Westeros. They are a very rich house, Old Town is wealthy from trade mostly. And in the center of it is the High Tower, from which Hightowers take their name," says Martin. Also Read: 'House of the Dragon' trailer: HBO series promises fiery dragon battles in an older struggle for Iron Throne In 'House of the Dragon', Paddy Considine plays the role of the reigning monarch King Viserys I Targaryen. His eldest child is a daughter called Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), an ambitious individual who does not hold with the norm that only men can rule the realm. The king's younger brother Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) also has designs on the throne. Also involved are Lady Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), and his wife Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best), among others. 'House of the Dragon' releases on August 21.

'House of the Dragon' featurette: George RR Martin reveals new contenders for the Iron Throne. Watch

'Game of Thrones' is back in the form of prequel 'House of the Dragon' with an all-new cast who turned out on Wednesday to launch the show at a premiere in Los Angeles. 
 
The new showrunners, who took over from David Benioff and DB Weiss, are Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik. 
"There`s more wealth, there`s been a half-century of peace and really the big thing about this is it`s a story about a house divided. It`s about a single house tearing itself apart from within," said Condal.

 
The show begins with King Viserys Targaryen played by Paddy Considine deliberating who should be his next heir - his brother Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) or his daughter Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D`Arcy). 
 
However, a third challenger for the throne arises. Olivia Cooke plays Alicent Hightower, Princess Rhaenyra`s lifelong friend, who marries the king after his wife dies in childbirth. 
 
Cooke said she enjoyed the strained scenes between her and D`Arcy featured in the trailer. "It`s so fun for me because acting opposite Emma is like going toe-to-toe with (boxer) Mike Tyson. I love them so dearly and ... on screen it looks like we hate each other but I absolutely adore them." 
 
For D'Arcy, this is her biggest role to date, and she is bracing herself for sudden fame. 
 
"I`m really excited for the show to have an audience. What that does for me in my day-to-day, I can`t speak for but I`m really excited to see what people make of it," D'Arcy said.

Rhys Ifans, who plays Alicent's father, Ser Otto Hightower and is also the Hand of the King, said he feels positive about the show's future. 
 
"The performances from everyone are nothing short of exquisite and now it's just a case of waiting and seeing if it resonates with the many millions of fans and new audiences" 
 
'House of the Dragon' begins streaming on HBO on Aug. 21. 
&nbsp;

'Game of Thrones' is back in the form of prequel 'House of the Dragon' with an all-new cast who turned out on Wednesday to launch the show at a premiere in Los Angeles.

'Game of Thrones' is back in the form of prequel 'House of the Dragon' with an all-new cast who turned out on Wednesday to launch the show at a premiere in Los Angeles. The new showrunners, who took over from David Benioff and DB Weiss, are Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik. "There`s more wealth, there`s been a half-century of peace and really the big thing about this is it`s a story about a house divided. It`s about a single house tearing itself apart from within," said Condal. The show begins with King Viserys Targaryen played by Paddy Considine deliberating who should be his next heir - his brother Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) or his daughter Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D`Arcy). However, a third challenger for the throne arises. Olivia Cooke plays Alicent Hightower, Princess Rhaenyra`s lifelong friend, who marries the king after his wife dies in childbirth. Cooke said she enjoyed the strained scenes between her and D`Arcy featured in the trailer. "It`s so fun for me because acting opposite Emma is like going toe-to-toe with (boxer) Mike Tyson. I love them so dearly and ... on screen it looks like we hate each other but I absolutely adore them." For D'Arcy, this is her biggest role to date, and she is bracing herself for sudden fame. "I`m really excited for the show to have an audience. What that does for me in my day-to-day, I can`t speak for but I`m really excited to see what people make of it," D'Arcy said. Rhys Ifans, who plays Alicent's father, Ser Otto Hightower and is also the Hand of the King, said he feels positive about the show's future. "The performances from everyone are nothing short of exquisite and now it's just a case of waiting and seeing if it resonates with the many millions of fans and new audiences" 'House of the Dragon' begins streaming on HBO on Aug. 21.

'Game of Thrones' prequel 'House of the Dragon' takes off in Hollywood