Exclusive: House of the Dragon Season 2 Filming Update Revealed by Game of Thrones Creator George R R Martin

Summary

House of the Dragon season 2 is currently in the midst of filming, progressing smoothly despite ongoing strikes. All the scripts were completed prior to the commencement of the strikes, ensuring uninterrupted production.

The cast members of House of the Dragon belong to Equity, the British union, rather than SAG-AFTRA. As a result, they remain unaffected by the strike and can continue their work seamlessly.

HBO remains optimistic about the premiere of House of the Dragon season 2 in summer 2024, despite strikes and the need for extensive special effects. Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin provides an important update on the upcoming season, which focuses on the conflict between the Greens, who support Aegon Targaryen, and the Blacks, who stand behind Rhaenyra Targaryen. Season 2 will showcase a brutal total war between the two factions following Lucerys' death. Despite the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike, production for House of the Dragon has continued without interruption, aiming for a summer 2024 release.

Martin recently announced on his Not A Blog that production for the second season of House of the Dragon is currently halfway completed and making good progress. He also discusses why the spinoff is able to continue filming despite the strikes that have impacted many other Hollywood productions. According to Martin, the writing for the show was already finished before the writers' strikes began in May, and the actors are members of Equity rather than SAG-AFTRA. This means they are not bound by strike terms and are able to continue working. While Equity fully supports the American strikers, they are unable to participate in sympathy strikes due to UK law. As Martin highlights, British actors risk being fired or sued if they walk out, as they lack legal protection against breaching their contracts.

I was truly surprised by that news. The Labour Party, one of the two dominant political parties in the UK, has its origins in the trade union movement. It is bewildering to think that they would permit the implementation of regulations that are unfavorable to labor. It appears to me that the Labour Party must seriously enhance its efforts in safeguarding the right to strike.

On a personal note, my agreement with HBO has been put on hold since June 1.

When Will House Of The Dragon Season 2 Release?

There is still plenty for me to accomplish, undoubtedly. In this regard, I consider myself fortunate. (These strikes are not primarily aimed at renowned writers, producers, or showrunners, as most of them are proficient. We are protesting for the aspiring writers at the beginner level, the story editors, the students with aspirations to break into the industry, the actor with just four lines, and the individual working their initial staff job who dreams of creating their own show one day, much like I did in the 80s)."

House of the Dragon season 2 commenced filming on April 11th. Assuming Martin's estimation holds true, there will be an additional approximately 102 days dedicated to filming, indicating that production could conclude around November. Taking into account the considerable amount of special effects work necessary for House of the Dragon season 2, it is probable that the season will be unveiled in either the summer or fall of 2024. At present, HBO strives to launch House of the Dragon season 2 in the summer of 2024, signifying that it is progressing as planned.

Due to the massive VFX workload expected for the upcoming season, the long wait for House of the Dragon season 2 is understandable. After the suspenseful conclusion of season 1, where Rhaenyra prepares for war, the show will escalate tensions into an all-out battle. With the death of Lucerys Velaryon, Daemon's search for more dragons, and Westeros on the brink of a bloody civil war, the conflict between dragons will require significant development.

HBO gave the green light for House of the Dragon season 2 only after the premiere received a record-breaking response, proving that Game of Thrones is still a successful franchise despite its disappointing ending. Consequently, filming was delayed by months to allow for pre-production to be completed while season 1 aired. Now that the show has demonstrated its staying power, there is a possibility for a faster production of season 3. As half of House of the Dragon season 2 has already been filmed, further updates are expected as production continues.

Source: George R. R. Martin