On Friday, preparations for the upcoming Game Of Thrones prequel House Of The Dragon appeared to be well underway.
Aerial shots taken above Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire showed a spectacular erection of Winterfell Castle, which played a pivotal role in the fantasy mega-hit.
On-set, you could also see the distinctive Weirwood Tree. The drama’s opening credits featured a marker that indicated the status of House Stark’s ancestral home.
Spectacular: House Of The Dragon FIRST LOOK: Aerial shots of Leavesden Studios reveal the iconic Winterfell Castle and Weirwood Tree will feature in the Game Of Thrones prequel’s storyline
Ramsay Bolton’s decimation caused it to be destroyed and surrounded with smoke. With Bran stronger than ever and the Starks back home in their hometown, the Weirwood flourished in the CGI opening.
The history of Westeros has been dominated by Weirwood trees. It was on one of these trees that the Children Of The Forest created their first White Walker to defeat the First Men.
Castle Ward, Northern Ireland was Winterfell in the first series Game Of Thrones. Production moved onto an enormous custom-built set deep within the County Antrim countryside.
Wow! It was amazing!
Impressive: All eight Harry Potter films as well as other movies including James Bond, Fast and Furious and the Mission Impossible franchises have filmed at the studios (pictured in 2017)
Exciting: Aerial shots taken above the Hertfordshire set showed a spectacular erection of Winterfell Castle, which played a pivotal role in the fantasy mega-hit
Incredible: The set looked incredible!
Stunning: Also visible on-set was the unmistakable Weirwood Tree, which had been a marker for the condition of the ancestral home of House Stark in the drama’s opening credits
History: The site – which covers almost 200 acres – was previously an aircraft factory called Leavesden Aerodrome that was central to production during World War II
White tents and trailers filled the deserted area. Stacks of logs were also fenced off with neon orange fencing. Also, a collection of boulders was placed along with a large black ship.
The studios have been used for filming all eight Harry Potter films and other movies like Fast and Furious, James Bond, and Mission Impossible.
The site, which covers nearly 200 acres, was once an aircraft factory called Leavesden Aerodrome. It was the heart of production during World War II.
Under cover: White trailers and tents covered the deserted area
Interesting: Neon orange fencing was used to cordon off stacks of logs
Busy: It appeared that the set was filled with clues and set-ups
Woah! A large, dark ship hinting at future storylines
Life-like: The castle looked just like the real thing
It was converted into film use for Pierce Brosnan’s first Bond film GoldenEye in 1994. It has been a popular spot for producers ever since.
Other films shot at these studios include Inception and Paddington, Star Wars Episode I, The Phantom Menace, The Dark Knight, and Bohemian Rhapsody.
You can also find the Warner Bros. Studios nearby. Studio Tours take guests behind-the scenes of the creation of Harry Potter.
Work-in-progress
What could they be? A number of boulders were placed on the grass.
Protected – The ship’s impressive shape was protected by a collection storage units
Iconic: Other films shot at the studios include Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Inception, Paddington, The Dark Knight and Bohemian Rhapsody
HBO released the first teaser trailer for its highly-anticipated prequel. It features Matt Smith, who is seen snoozing on a dark beach.
Matt plays Prince Daemon Targaryen. He has been filming in Kynance cove in Cornwall, the setting for the trailer.
The show is set 200-years before the ‘falling from the throne” that Game Of Thrones fans witnessed.
First look: HBO has released its first teaser for Game Of Thrones spin-off House Of The Dragon, which features star Matt Smith as he broods on a dark beach
Matt can be heard saying, “Gods, Kings, Fire and Blood.” Dreams didn’t make us kings – dragons did!’
Images flash up of other characters, such as Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Theo Nate who portrays Laenor Velaryon.
A clip shows a pair of knights on horseback fighting each other in a violent clash.
Lead role: Images flash up of other characters, such as Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
200 years earlier: Theo Nate portrays Laenor Valaryon in the trailer
The trailer is very brief, showing dark shots of candlelit hallways and frantic-looking characters caught in a rush.
One picture shows an unknown man gripping the handle of his sword. The other shot shows two men fighting.
The teaser ends with Princess Rhaenyra approaching the Iron Throne from the previous series.
Fans seemed to agree with the post, with one expressing admiration via Twitter: “This looks so delicious! I’m so excited!!! House of the Dragon is going to be amazing!
Fans seemed to agree with the post, with one expressing admiration via Twitter: “This looks so delicious! I’m so excited!!! House of the Dragon is going to be amazing!
Another tweeted: Matt Smith is perfect! Then came the next tweet: ‘Looks very promising!
One penned: ‘GAME OF THRONES IS BACK. HOUSE OF THE DRAGON LOOKS F***ING BEAUTIFUL.’
“This is fire. Literally,’ said another. Next came: ‘Best TV Show of 2022. Absolutely no competition’.
Matt’s character in the series is a dragonrider and the younger brother of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) and heir to the throne.
Action! Action!
Prequel: The show takes place 200 years before Game Of Thrones’ ‘fall from the throne’.
After a person tested positive for Covid-19, production was halted in July.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, it is believed that the production was shut down for two consecutive days.
House Of The Dragon spokeswoman at the time, saying: “A Zone A production member of House of the Dragon tested positive to COVID-19 as part of the strict testing that was done for all production employees.”
“In compliance with industry guidelines the production member is isolated and close contacts will need to quarantine.
Emma D’Arcy, a non-binary actor, portrays Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the 28-year old version.
Swords at the ready: One shot sees an unknown man clutching firmly onto the handle of a sword; another sees two men fighting
Matt is heard saying, “Gods and Kings, fire, blood, and Gods.” Dreams didn’t make us kings – dragons did!’
They are joined by Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon and Fabien Frankel at Ser Criston Cole. Olivia Cooke plays Alicent Hightower, Rhys Ifans plays Otto Hightower, Sonoya Mzuno plays Mysaria, and Steve Toussaint is Lord Corlys Velaryon.
The show will portray the war of succession between Daenerys’ ancestors Rhaenyra II and Aegon II, dragon-wielding heirs of the Iron Throne in a civil war known under the name Dance of the Dragons.
The Dance of the Dragons saw Rhaenyra, her half-brother Aegon II, fight for Viserys I’s throne. It was a three-year-long war that resulted in untold deaths and misfortune for the Targaryen line.
Rhaenyra, who was named the heir to Viserys I’s father, died. Aegon II was quickly crowned, and she vowed revenge on him.
Origin story: Game Of Thrones fans first saw the prequel back in May. HBO released three photos from the project.
She was soon crowned queen by her father with the stolen crown. This triggered a power struggle.
Rhaenyra married her uncle Daemon after the death of her first husband, Ser Laenor Velaryon. He also supported her campaign against her half brother.
Casting began last year and the prequel is expected to be released in spring 2022.
Back in May Game Of Thrones fans got their first look at the upcoming prequel, with HBO releasing three official photos from the project.
The Crown’s Matt and Emma portray the royals Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as well as Prince Daemon Targaryen. Emma is wearing the same blonde locks Emilia Clarke wore when Emilia Clarke played Daenerys Targaryen in the original.
Outsiders: Olivia Cooke and Rhys Ifans were seen in another shot, donning dark green to represent their their lineage: House Hightower. They play Alicent Hightower (King Viserys I Targaryen’s second wife) and Otto Hightower (the Hand of the King).
High seas: Steve Toussaint wore white dreadlocks and a sea-weathered stare while transforming into Lord Corlys Velaryon, also known as the Sea Snake. Later, he will be known as Hand to Queen Rhaenyra Tarrayen.
George R.R. was the one who created House Of The Dragon. Ryan Condal and Martin Condal wrote the pilot script, which earned House of the Dragon a 10-episode production contract.
Condal’s showrunner Miguel Sapochnik will also join the team. directing the pilot and additional episodes. Sapochnik is no stranger in the Reach. He won an Emmy for his work with Game Of Thrones.
The spin-off began filming in April. The stars were seen filming in rural Cornwall in England.
After crews were seen last week in various locations, speculation began that the prequel might be being filmed in the south county.
House of the Dragon will portray the power struggle between Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors Rhaenyra, Aegon II and Daenerys Targaryen, two dragon-wielding heirs of the Iron Throne. This civil war is known as the Dance of the Dragons. (Pictured left, Emilia Clarke & Harry Lloys as Daenerys & Viserys.
Pictures were released showing that a film set had appeared at Holywell Bay beach. It could have been used for scenes featuring Emma and Matt.
Production was also taking place at the medieval castle on St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall. It bore a striking resemblance the castle Queen Cersei inhabited in the original HBO series. The original HBO series was shot in Dubrovnik (Croatia).
The castle boasts a spectacular view of North Sea, with most of the filming taking place in the lower reaches.
According to some reports, the family gave permission to the production crew to film in the castle’s higher areas.
It was confirmed that House Of The Dragon would start filming in spring 2021. The filming would take place in the UK at Leavesden Studios owned by Warner Bros.
House of the Dragon will be available on HBO Max in the US starting in 2022. A UK release is anticipated to begin around the same time.
Worth the wait: The House Of The Dragon aims for a spring 2022 release. Since April, they have been filming in Cornwall.