Game of Thrones will "evolve" with the launch of the upcoming prequel series House of the Dragon, according to showrunner Miguel Sapochnik.
The first full trailer for the upcoming HBO series was released in October and now the countdown is on for when the show will air in 2022. Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans and Paddy Considine will all star in the show with Sapochnik and Ryan J. Condal, who previously worked on Game of Thrones, serving as co-showrunners.
Sapochnik, is also the director of the upcoming Apple TV+ movie Finch, which stars Tom Hanks as a man battling to survive with his dog and robot in a dystopian future. Ahead of the movie's release on Friday November 5, 2021, Sapochnik spoke to Newsweek about how House of the Dragon is shaping up.
He told Newsweek that the prequel series will both a continuation of what people have come to expect from Game of Thrones, and something completely different. "I've been involved in the franchise for a while. And I think it's really important that the franchise evolve," Sapochnik said.
He worked as a producer and director on a number of Game of Thrones episodes throughout the later part of its run. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the episode "Battle of the Bastards."
Sapochnik won't be resting on his laurels though. He said: "It's not the same story, it's not the same characters, and therefore, it needs visually, evolution. But at the same time, you know, people want to see Game of Thrones, and we shouldn't short change them of that."
Game of Thrones made stars out its previously unknown actors like Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner and Richard Madden. Now a new cast are taking on the mantle of bringing George R.R. Martin's work to life, but Sapochnik says the weight of the roles won't come as a surprise this time.
"I think most of the people coming into the show have seen the show and so they have in their mind, already a version of what they believe to be Game of Thrones." Sapochnik thinks each of the actors have adapted to their roles quite quickly as a result, "They were all quite adept at finding their feet -- [but] at the same time it's also nice to hear some fresh opinions, because otherwise we get a bit stuck in our ways, and I become the curmudgeon, which I'd hate to be."
Sapochnik is currently in the middle of filming House of the Dragon, and he said he'll be kept busy by the HBO show for a long time yet, confirming there'll like be a Season 2, after the first season airs.
Pondering future work, he said: "You know, there's multiple seasons to this show [House of the Dragon]. There's also films that I would love to do" -- after his second feature movie Finch -- "I feel like what I'd really like is a little holiday with my kid and my wife. That would be nice."
Finch will become available to watch exclusively on Apple TV+ from Friday November 5, 2021.
House of the Dragon is scheduled to launch on HBO and HBO Max in 2022.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jamie Burton is a Newsweek Senior TV and Film Reporter (Interviews) based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
