A Game Of Thrones prequel series has been announced and will feature on HBO’s upcoming streaming service, the US cable network has said.
Titled House Of The Dragon, the spin-off will focus on the House of Targaryen and was co-created by George RR Martin, whose books the original series is based on.
Ryan Condal, who co-created the prequel with Martin, will serve as executive producer, alongside Miguel Sapochnik.
British actress Emilia Clarke won critical acclaim for the fan-favourite role of Daenerys Targaryen in eight seasons of Game Of Thrones.
#HouseOfTheDragon, a #GameofThrones prequel is coming to @HBO.
The series is co-created by @GRRMSpeaking and Ryan Condal. Miguel Sapochnik will partner with Condal as showrunner and will direct the pilot and additional episodes. Condal will be writing the series. pic.twitter.com/9ttMzElgXm
— Game of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) October 29, 2019
House Of The Dragon was announced at an event in Los Angeles, where further details about streaming service HBO Max were revealed.
It will launch in the US in May 2020 and will cost 14.99 dollars, about £11.65, per month. There is no word on a UK release, where Game Of Thrones aired on Sky Atlantic.
House Of The Dragon’s reveal came hours after reports surfaced in the US claiming a previously announced Game Of Thrones prequel, starring British actress Naomi Watts, had been cancelled after its pilot episode was poorly received by executives.
Executive producer Jane Goldman emailed cast members with the news, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Watts, Oscar-nominated for her roles in 2003 neo-noir film 21 Grams and 2012 disaster film The Impossible, was set to star in the show.
The prequel was co-created by Martin and was set about 5,000 years before the events featured in the original Game Of Thrones.
Speaking when the spin-off was announced, HBO said it would feature “the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour”.
Game Of Thrones is widely considered one of the greatest TV series of all time and came to an end earlier this year after eight record-breaking seasons.