The Big Picture
- Despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike, production of Season 2 of “House of the Dragon” will continue.
- The visual effects and production design of “House of the Dragon” expanded the world of Westeros established in “Game of Thrones” while maintaining audience familiarity.
- The prequel gave extra attention to the dragons, with diverse and colorful designs, in line with George R.R. Martin’s original vision.
Despite the ongoing strike by SAG-AFTRA and WGA, it has been confirmed that the highly successful spin-off series “House of the Dragon” will continue production. This news was revealed by acclaimed author and screenwriter George R.R. Martin. “House of the Dragon” faced numerous challenges in its first season, as it had to live up to the legacy of “Game of Thrones” and create its own unique story.
This was a significant responsibility for the creative team behind the series, and they executed it to perfection. The show received eight Emmy nominations this year, including Outstanding Drama Series, showcasing the exceptional storytelling and visual effects that captivated audiences throughout the eight seasons of “Game of Thrones.” Visual effects supervisor Angus Bickerton emphasized the importance of respecting the visual legacy of “Game of Thrones” while expanding the world of Westeros in “House of the Dragon.” He said, “We owed it to the audience to make sure we reference the visual legacy from ‘Game of Thrones,’ both in design and quality.” The production designer Jim Clay added, “The approach was to embrace and expand the world while at the same time retaining audience familiarity with that world.”
In the original series, we witnessed the presence of fire-breathing dragons, but “House of the Dragon” took these mythical creatures to a whole new level. The prequel showcased a diverse and colorful range of dragons, as intended by George R.R. Martin. Visual effects supervisor Angus Bickerton stated, “It was always George R.R. Martin’s intention that the dragons were diverse and colorful, so the primary design goal at the start of pre-production was to create distinct characters.”