Dragons not invited — House of the Dragon boss wants the next Targaryen tale dragon-free

Let's get straight to it: House of the Dragon boss Ryan Condal has been talking about what's next for the Game of Thrones franchise, and his take is a bit different from what fans might expect. If you thought HBO would be swimming in dragons forever, think again.

The Targaryens, Minus the Fire-Breathing Lizards

Speaking to Collider, Condal went into detail about his vision for future Westeros stories, and, frankly, he sounds ready to hang up his dragon trainer's hat for good once House of the Dragon wraps up (which, for those keeping score, is expected after season 4). According to him, the most fascinating tale left to tell is the part where the Targaryen dynasty finally goes up in smoke, and—here's the twist—there wouldn't be any dragons left to save them.

Here's how Condal put it in that interview, reflecting both on his own future and the franchise's potential:

"I have really said all I have to or need to say about dragons and Targaryens and thrones, but I think the most interesting story left on the table is the story of the end of the Targaryen dynasty. But the one told from the point of view of the Targaryens themselves."

Just to be clear, when Condal talks about the "end" of the Targaryens, he means the big, messy collapse that happens with Aerys II—better known as the Mad King—getting unceremoniously knocked off the throne. Not vague downfall, but the literal regime change: Robert's Rebellion, the bit that immediately sets up the original Game of Thrones series.

Condal clarified that when he says "the end of the Targaryens," he's specifically talking about the formal end of their reign with the death of Aerys II the Mad King.

By that point in the history, the great Valyrian dynasty is out of firepower—literally and figuratively. No dragons left, just lots of family drama and political backstabbing. The loss of their dragons in the earlier centuries (thanks, in part, to a lovely civil war called the Dance of Dragons, which House of the Dragon is all about) means the Targaryens spend their final generations clinging on as their power unravels, making their demise a very different kind of story.

What Else Is HBO Planning?

The studio hasn't officially announced anything about a series focusing on Robert's Rebellion or the fall of the Targaryens, despite fan speculation and Condal's musings. What is confirmed: Warner Bros. are ploughing ahead with a feature-length film that tackles Aegon Targaryen's original conquest of Westeros, so at least one other part of the family soap opera is getting screen time.

A feature film exploring Aegon's invasion and the unification of Westeros is confirmed, but there's still no official word on a project centred on Robert Baratheon's rebellion or the Targaryens losing the throne.