'Game of Thrones' prequel, 'House of the Dragon,' premieres in August

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower in HBO's "House of the Dragon." Credit: HBO / Ollie Upton
"House of the Dragon," the previously announced prequel to the concluded HBO epic-fantasy series "Game of Thrones," has a release date.
The premium-cable network announced Wednesday that the 10-episode drama will debut Aug. 21. Based on George R.R. Martin's 2018 novel "Fire & Blood," the series, set 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones," tells the story of House Targaryen. Starring are Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen; Matt Smith as his younger brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen; Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King; Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen; and others including Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans.