American broadcaster HBO has four new cast members for second season”House of the Dragon‘ proclaimed. And these will play an important role in the now finally impending civil war in Targaryen (the so-called Dragon Dance): Three of them are on the side of the Greens around Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke), while there is also a newcomer on the side of the blacks around Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) there. But one after the other:
Probably the most prominent new addition to the cast Simon Russell Beale. The British actor can look back on a long and glorious career and has appeared in numerous films such as “The Death Of Stalin”, “The Outfit” or “The Deception”. He recently played the Greek god of wine, Dionysus, in Thor 4: Love & Thunder.
In House Of The Dragon Season 2, he plays Ser Simon Strong. Simon is Larys Strong’s great-uncle (Matthew Needham), Queen Alicent’s shrewd and cunning adviser. Larys became Lord of Harrenhal by murdering his father, Lyonel, and brother, Harwin. Simon is the castellan of the castle, Larys’ deputy, so to speak. In George R. R. Martin’s book, he faces a black attack on Harrenhal.
Also Gayle Rankin (“GLOW”) is closely associated with Harrenhal as Alys Rivers: In the original book she is a (alleged?) bastard daughter of Lyonel Strong. However, what is more interesting is that she is said to be a witch who uses magical means to maintain a young appearance and wraps two prominent green fingers around her fingers along with Criston Cole (German: Kriston Kraut) and Aemond Targaryen.
And then there is the third newcomer on the side of the Greens Gwayne Hightower (German: Gawan Hightower), played by Freddie Fox (“The crown”). As the name suggests, he is Queen Alicent’s younger brother, which also comes from the House of Hightower. In the book, he becomes the second-in-command of the King’s Landing City Guard.
A new verlaryon for the blacks
On the other side, on the black side, bumps Abubakar Salim (“Raised by wolves”) as Alyn van Hull to the cast. He is, according to the official description, a “Velaryon Fleet Sailor who took part in the Stepping Stones campaign”. However, he is also in the original book an asshole, probably by Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). He also plays an important role in the course of the dragon dance, without revealing too much.
Incidentally, George RR Martin still has Alyn’s older brother Addam. However, since he wasn’t cast (at least as far as we know) and Alyn is actually quite young at the start of the Civil War, it could be that the two characters were merged.
We will know more in a year. “House of the DragonSeason 2 is expected to start in spring or summer 2024.