“It’s going to be better than ever”: HBO executive teases House Of The Dragon Season 3 will begin with an epic battle

As the wait for House Of The Dragon season 3 continues, an HBO executive has shared an update about the show that is going to leave fans excited. The fantasy drama, which serves as a prequel to Game of Thrones, follows two sides of the Targaryen family, who get embroiled in a civil war.

When the show’s second season ended in August 2024, many fans called the ending lackluster. However, it looks like the makers will make up for it with an explosive season 3 premiere, as Francesca Orsi, the Head of Drama Series and Films at HBO, has said the upcoming installment will begin with an epic battle. She stated in an interview with Deadline:

“I’m so glad we waited because it’s going to be better than ever, and I don’t think we had the time at that point to do what it is that we’ve achieved now this season.”

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Francesca Orsi teases an exciting battle in House Of The Dragon Season 3 premiere

In her interview, Francesca Orsi highlighted how fans are going to be surprised by a much-awaited battle at the beginning of House Of The Dragon season 3. She said:

“I’m really excited. I think you’re going to be in for a great surprise on how we start the [season] with an exciting battle.”

Reportedly, he battle is expected to be the Battle of the Gullet, which is counted among the most violent fights over the sea in Westeros’ history. The sequence was earlier reported to be a part of season 2, but the number of episodes in the installment was eventually cut short from 10 to 8, pushing the battle scene to season 3.

At the time, showrunner Ryan Condal revealed the team needed more resources and time to justify the massive scale of the sequence. Orsi has now said the scene is indeed going to be worth the wait:

“You know what, it was worth the wait. I was just on set and saw all the elements and what was behind it.”

She added:

“It’s just so massive, we needed the time to build it. One of the lead producers on it [Kevin de la Noy] worked on Titanic, so all that he brought in terms of acumen of what happened on the Titanic and how that entire experience is built, he brings that expertise to it.”

House Of The Dragon was renewed for a third season ahead of season 2 premiere in June 2024. Based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, the series is set around 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and revolves around a war for the throne between half-siblings Rhaenyra Targaryen and Aegon Targaryen.

The show stars Emma D'Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Tom Glynn-Carney, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Bethany Antonia, and Sonoya Mizuno in the main roles.

House of the Dragon season 3 will premiere on HBO in 2026.