'Game of Thrones' Targaryen Prequel 'House of the Dragon' Receives Full Series Order at HBO

The show is based off George R.R. Martin’s book 'Fire & Blood.'

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George R. R. Martin, American novelist and short story writer, best known for his series of epic fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire, which was adapted into the HBO series Game of Thrones stands at fictional Winterfell Castle in the grounds of the National Trust property, Castle Ward, where scenes from the series were filmed, before an audience with George at Castle WardÕs theatre this evening. (Photo by Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty Images)

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HBO isn't abandoning Westeros any time soon.

Hours after pulling the plug on the Game of Thrones prequel Age of Heroes, the network announced a 10-episode, straight-to-series order for House of the Dragon—a GoT prequel that will focus on the Targaryen dynasty. The series is based off George R.R. Martin's book Fire & Blood, and will be set 300 years before the events of GoT. Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal (Colony) will serve as the showrunners as well as executive producers alongside Vince Gerardis and Martin.

"The Game of Thrones universe is so rich with stories," Casey Bloys, president of HBO programming, said in a press release. "We look forward to exploring the origins of House Targaryen and the earlier days of Westeros along with Miguel, Ryan and George."

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Sapochnik, who directed a total of six GoT episodes, will helm the House of the Dragon pilot. He won a 2016 Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series as well as the DGA Award for the "Battle of the Bastards" episode. Sapochnik was also nominated for a 2019 Emmy for directing the "The Long Night" and won the award for Best Drama Series as an executive producer for GoT's final season.

HBO has not indicated when the series will premiere. 

Martin addressed the GoT successor series in a September blog, confirming there were five shows in development at the time.

"There were four to start with. Then five. Then three. I’ve said all that before," he wrote. "Jane Goldman’s as yet untitled show, which I am still not supposed to call THE LONG NIGHT, is one of those. The pilot on that one wrapped a month ago and has been in post-production. I am expecting to see her first cut soon."

We now know Goldman's show was the Naomi Watts-led Age of Heroes, which will not advance to series. So, going off Martin's post, House of the Dragon is just one of two GoT spinoffs in the works at HBO.

We'll keep you posted as more details about the prequel become available.

In other GoT-related news: Series showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss announce they have exited the forthcoming Star Wars trilogy. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed the departure, but said the studio was open to working with the duo sometime in the future.

"David Benioff and Dan Weiss are incredible storytellers," Kennedy said. "We hope to include them in the journey forward when they are able to step away from their busy schedule to focus on Star Wars."

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