House of the Dragon, HBO’s epic Game of Thrones prequel series, returns for its third season on June 21, bringing fans back to Westeros and deeper into the bloody Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Season 3 explores one of the most consequential chapters in Westerosi history as the war between Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Blacks and King Aegon II’s Greens erupts into full-scale conflict. The new season opens with the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet, a pivotal clash that reshapes the balance of power across the Seven Kingdoms.
Here’s everything you need to know about the cast and characters of House of the Dragon Season 3.
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When Does ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Premiere?
House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, June 21, with episodes premiering weekly.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Premise
Season 3 picks up as the Dance of the Dragons intensifies, with Rhaenyra Targaryen and her Black supporters seeking to strengthen their claim to the Iron Throne while Aegon II and the Greens prepare their response. The new season is expected to open with the Battle of the Gullet, a pivotal naval conflict that marks a major turning point in the Targaryen civil war and raises the stakes for both sides.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 New Cast and Characters
Several new faces are joining House of the Dragon for Season 3 as the Dance of the Dragons expands across Westeros.
James Norton as Ormund Hightower
The nephew of Otto Hightower and lord of House Hightower, Ormund commands one of the largest armies aligned with the Greens. A key figure in the Reach, he is expected to play an increasingly important role as the Targaryen civil war spreads across Westeros.
Norton is known for Happy Valley, Grantchester and The Nevers.
Tommy Flanagan as Ser Roderick Dustin
Known as “Roddy the Ruin,” Ser Roderick Dustin is the Lord of Barrowton and head of House Dustin in the North. A warrior and fan-favorite character from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, Roddy leads a force of northern soldiers known as the Winter Wolves.
Flanagan is known for Sons of Anarchy, Gladiator and Braveheart.
Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly
A knight of House Manderly from the North, Torrhen is described as a sharp and charismatic supporter of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s cause.
Fogler is best known for the Fantastic Beasts films and A Complete Unknown.
Tom Cullen as Ser Luthor Largent
A commander of the City Watch of King’s Landing, Luthor Largent is a lowborn officer known for his size, strength and loyalty to Daemon Targaryen.
Cullen is known for Downton Abbey, Knightfall and The Gold.
Barry Sloane as Ser Adrian Redfort
A knight of House Redfort, Adrian Redfort joins the conflict as a supporter of Queen Rhaenyra and the Blacks.
Sloane is known for Revenge, Six and the Call of Duty franchise.
Returning Cast of House of the Dragon Season 3
Here’s your returning cast and character guide for the new season of HBO’s House of the Dragon.
Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
The daughter and designated heir of King Viserys I Targaryen, Rhaenyra was expected from a young age to become the first ruling queen in Westerosi history. Known as the Realm’s Delight, she is proud, determined, and fiercely protective of her claim to the Iron Throne. She is bonded to the dragon Syrax and has long served as the leader of the Blacks, the faction supporting her succession.
Viserys publicly named Rhaenyra his heir, but after his death, Queen Alicent Hightower, Ser Otto Hightower, and their allies crowned her half-brother Aegon II instead. Their decision sparked the Dance of the Dragons, plunging House Targaryen into a devastating civil war.
Heading into Season 3, Rhaenyra finds herself in her strongest position yet as the conflict enters a new phase. With the balance of power shifting and both sides preparing for larger battles, she is closer than ever to realizing her lifelong ambition of ruling Westeros.
D’Arcy is also known for Wanderlust and Truth Seekers.
Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
Daemon Targaryen is the younger brother of King Viserys I and the uncle and second husband of Rhaenyra Targaryen. Dubbed the Rogue Prince for his fierce temperament and unpredictable nature, Daemon is one of the most feared warriors in Westeros. He rides the dragon Caraxes, known as the Blood Wyrm, and wields Dark Sister, a legendary Valyrian steel sword.
A key leader of the Blacks during the Dance of the Dragons, Daemon has long been one of Rhaenyra’s strongest supporters and military commanders. As Season 3 begins, Daemon is expected to play a major role in the escalating war as the conflict between the Blacks and Greens reaches new heights.
Smith is also known for Doctor Who, The Crown and Last Night in Soho.
Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
Alicent Hightower was once Rhaenyra Targaryen’s closest friend before becoming her chief political rival. As the widow of King Viserys I and mother of Aegon II, Alicent played a central role in placing her son on the Iron Throne and helping establish the Greens as a rival faction to Rhaenyra’s supporters. As the Dance of the Dragons continues, Alicent remains one of the conflict’s most influential figures.
You know Olivia Cooke from Bates Motel, Ready Player One and Sound of Metal.
Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
Aegon II Targaryen is the sixth king of the Seven Kingdoms and the eldest son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower. The half-brother of Rhaenyra Targaryen, Aegon is married to his sister-wife Helaena and rides the golden dragon Sunfyre.
Following Viserys’ death, Aegon was crowned king by the Greens despite his father’s decision to name Rhaenyra as heir. His coronation ignited the Dance of the Dragons, pitting his supporters against Rhaenyra’s Blacks in a brutal struggle for control of the Iron Throne. As Season 3 begins, Aegon remains at the center of the growing civil war that threatens to tear House Targaryen apart.
Glynn-Carney is also known for Dunkirk and The King.
Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
The third child of Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, Aemond Targaryen is known as Aemond One-Eye after losing his left eye in a childhood fight with his nephews. Though not the heir to the Iron Throne, Aemond has emerged as one of the Greens’ most formidable warriors. He rides Vhagar, the largest and oldest living dragon in Westeros, and plays a key role in the Dance of the Dragons.
Mitchell is also known for The Last Kingdom and World on Fire.
Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
As Hand of the King to Viserys I Targaryen and father of Queen Alicent Hightower, Otto Hightower is one of the key players of the Greens’ rise to power. A skilled political operator, Otto spent years working to secure the Iron Throne for his grandson Aegon II, ultimately helping orchestrate the decision to bypass Rhaenyra despite Viserys’ wishes.
Unlike the impulsive and war-minded Daemon Targaryen, Otto relies on strategy and careful planning to achieve his goals. His rivalry with Daemon has shaped much of the conflict between the Blacks and Greens and helped fuel the outbreak of the Dance of the Dragons.
As the civil war continues in Season 3, Otto remains one of the Greens’ most influential and calculating leaders.
Ifans is also known for Notting Hill, The Boat That Rocked and Enduring Love.
Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
Lord of the Driftmark and head of House Velaryon, one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the Seven Kingdoms, Lord Corlys Velaryon is known as the Sea Snake for his legendary seafaring history. He serves as Master of Ships for Viserys I and resigns upon learning of the usurpation after the king’s death. He sees Rhaenyra as the rightful heir and becomes Hand of the Queen.
Toussaint is also known for Doctor Strange and Death on the Nile.
Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
A brothel dancer who became Daemon Targaryen’s paramour, Mysaria is a trusted confidant and skilled secret keeper known as the White Worm. She controls a network of spies in King’s Landing and becomes a valuable advisor to Rhaenyra as she battles those who seek to remove her from the throne in Season 3.
Sonoya Mizuno is also known for Ex Machina, Devs and Annihilation.
Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
Ser Criston Cole is a renowned knight from the Dornish Marches who was chosen by Rhaenyra Targaryen to join King Viserys I’s Kingsguard. Once one of Rhaenyra’s closest allies, Criston eventually switched to become one of her fiercest opponents and a key supporter of the Greens.
Following Aegon II’s ascension, Criston rose to become Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and later served as Hand of the King. His role in securing Aegon’s claim to the Iron Throne earned him the nickname “Kingmaker,” making him one of the most influential figures in the Dance of the Dragons.
Frankel is also known for The Pursuit of Love and The Serpent Queen.
Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
The only daughter of Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, Helaena Targaryen is the sister-wife of King Aegon II and rider of the dragon Dreamfyre. Known for her cryptic prophetic visions, Helaena is regarded by the Greens as their queen and has become one of the most sympathetic figures caught in the conflict between the rival Targaryen factions.
Saban is also known for The Last Kingdom.
Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen
The elder daughter of Daemon and Laena Velaryon, Lady Baela is a dragon rider bonded to Moondancer. A loyal supporter of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s cause, Baela is a member of the Blacks and one of the younger Targaryens drawn into the growing civil war.
Antonia is also known for Get Even and Stay Close.
Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen
Lady Rhaena Targaryen is the younger twin sister of Baela and the younger daughter of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon. Throughout the series, she has been entrusted with a dragon egg that has yet to hatch, a storyline that could take on greater significance in Season 3.
Campbell is also known for Midsomer Murders and stage productions of The Importance of Being Earnest.
Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle
Grand Maester Orwyle is a Maester of the Citadel who earns a place on Viserys I’s small council and holds his position when Aegon II takes the throne. A voice of reason amid the growing conflict, Orwyle often favors diplomacy over bloodshed as the Dance of the Dragons escalates.
You know Kurt Egyiawan from Slow Horses.
Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
A blacksmith from King’s Landing, Hugh Hammer is one of several dragonseeds — people with Targaryen ancestry capable of bonding with dragons. He claims Vermithor, the mighty dragon once ridden by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, earning a place among the key players in the Dance of the Dragons.
Bew is also known for Da Vinci’s Demons and The Street.
Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
Alyn of Hull is the bastard son of Lord Corlys Velaryon and a sailor in service of his house. He will have an important and treacherous role to play early in Season 3 during the Battle of the Gullet in the sea outside King’s Landing.
Salim is also known for Assassin’s Creed Origins and Jamestown.
Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
Another of Lord Corlys Velaryon’s bastard sons and a brother to Alyn, Addam of Hull is a shipwright within the Velaryon fleet who is later pursued by the dragon Seasmoke, which chooses Addam as its rider. His dual role as sailor and dragon rider will come to a head early in Season 3 during the Battle of the Gullet.
Liberty is also known for Holding and Touchdown.
Tom Bennett as Ulf White
Ulf White is a prominent figure within King’s Landing who believes he is a Targaryen bastard and the half-brother of the former king Viserys I and Daemon Targaryen. Furthering his claim is his ability to bond with the dragon Silverwing. He will fight for the Blacks in the upcoming Battle of the Gullet alongside Prince Jacaerys.
Bennett is also known for Mascots and Family Tree.
Stream the Game of Thrones Universe on DIRECTV
From the rise of House Targaryen in House of the Dragon to the battles, betrayals, and political intrigue of Game of Thrones, there’s never been a better time to revisit Westeros. Whether you’re catching up on previous seasons or diving into the latest chapter of the Dance of the Dragons, DIRECTV makes it easy to stream HBO’s epic fantasy franchise in one place.
Get started with DIRECTV to begin watching House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and more from the world of George R.R. Martin.
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