HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’ Prequel Confirmed: Aegon’s Conquest

If you’re curious about the rise of the Targaryen dynasty and the events leading to the Seven Kingdoms we know in House of the Dragon, HBO has you covered. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the network is developing a new Game of Thrones spin-off TV series focusing on Aegon’s Conquest, the legendary campaign (led by Aegon I) that united the Seven Kingdoms under Targaryen rule.

Writer Mattson Tomlin, best known for uncredited work on The Batman and co-writer of the upcoming sequel, is reportedly attached to the potential Aegon’s Conquest spin-off. Variety first reported the project in April 2023 as being in early development but news remained quiet in the following months. While HBO hasn’t officially confirmed anything yet, the success of House of the Dragon adds fuel to speculation about continued interest in expanding the Game of Thrones universe, making the spin-off an intriguing possibility.

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon | Image HBO

The upcoming spin-off will serve as a direct prequel to the wildly popular House of the Dragon, delving into the riveting tale of the Targaryens’ ruthless and bloody takeover of Westeros. Centred around the conqueror Aegon I Targaryen, later known as Aegon the Conqueror, the narrative unveils his conquest of the Westerosi continent alongside his sister wives, Rhaenys and Visenya, accompanied by their formidable dragons. Within a mere two years, Aegon masterfully managed to unite six of the Seven Kingdoms, with only Dorne managing to withstand his forces.

House of the Dragon is set approximately 110 to 130 years following the Conquest, with Aegon standing as the great-great-great-grandfather of Rhaenyra Targaryen. In contrast, the original Game of Thrones series takes place roughly 300 years post-Conquest. Currently, HBO hasn’t officially confirmed the Aegon’s Conquest spin-off and it’s unclear how far along the project is in development or who all are attached.

The network is also actively developing other Game of Thrones projects, including the Jon Snow spin-off and the recently greenlit A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, which will delve into the exploits of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg, set a century before the events depicted in the original series.