'Game of Thrones' prequel, 'House of the Dragon,' premieres in August
![Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower in HBO's "House of the...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMDkxN2RjZWYtMDMwYi00%3AY2MxMmE2%2Fetdrag220331_photos.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
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.