House of the Dragon 2: 10 lesser-known facts from the series that every true fan should know

A still from House of the Dragon

As the world gears up for the highly anticipated sequel to 'House of the Dragon', the prequel to the iconic 'Game of Thrones' the excitement among its cult following is palpable. The show has captured viewers' hearts globally with its gripping tales of power, wars, betrayal and so much more. The series launches on the 17th of June on JioCinema Premium.

While the main plot and characters have been widely discussed, numerous intriguing and lesser-known facts about the series add depth to its allure. Here are some unknown facts regarding the cult-favorite show which we bet only true fans would know about.

1. Before 'House of the Dragon' went into production, another spinoff series called 'Bloodmoon' was intended to be the first follow-up to the popular 'Game of Thrones' series.

2. The story is set approximately 170 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons from 'Game of Thrones'. It centers on the civil war among her ancestors, the Targaryens, during the peak of their reign.

3. Emma D'Arcy volunteered to create a schedule for the production team to try riding the mechanical bull, which would later be animated into a dragon during post-production.

4. Some actors in 'House of the Dragon' had to learn a constructed language for the series, which blends elements of Latin and Arabic.

5. Matt Smith revealed that transforming him into Daemon Targaryen takes an hour and a half. This transformation involves extensive makeup, hairstyling, and costuming to accurately depict his character.

6. The cast reported spending entire days on set riding noisy mechanical contraptions to simulate dragons. While riding "the buck," they endured leaf blowers and rain machines to replicate outdoor conditions.

7. In 'House of the Dragon', the Iron Throne appears markedly different from its depiction in 'Game of Thrones'. The new design is grander and more chaotic, featuring swords scattered upright around the Throne.

8. Milly Alcock, who plays Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, was just 10 years old when 'Game of Thrones' first premiered. She had never watched the show until she was cast in 'House of the Dragon'.

9. The first season of House of the Dragon covered 20 years.

10. Paddy Considine (AKA Viserys Targaryen) opted not to have a cushion on The Iron Throne because he wanted to feel the discomfort.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Stars Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel and Ewan Mitchell. Other cast members include Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans. Additional returning cast includes Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, and Matthew Needham; the new season will see Abubakar Salim, Gayle Rankin, Freddie Fox, Simon Russell Beale, Clinton Liberty, Jamie Kenna, Kieran Bew, Tom Bennett, Tom Taylor, and Vincent Regan.

Streaming exclusively on JioCinema Premium, House of the Dragon S2 will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Marathi, starting June 17th, with episodes dropping weekly every Monday, along with the US.