House of the Dragon boss has the one Game of Thrones prequel idea that makes perfect sense
House of the Dragon roared back with a blockbuster Season 3 premiere, and showrunner Ryan Condal is already eyeing the next Game of Thrones prequel. In a chat with GamesRadar+, he teased the spinoff he most wants to see — a pitch that slots perfectly into Westeros.
If you caught the big bang of House of the Dragon Season 3 this week, you’ll know the Targaryens are still very much the centre of the Westeros universe. But if you reckon it’s all gone a bit heavy on the dragons, well, you’re not the only one eyeing a fresh take. The bloke in charge – showrunner Ryan Condal – has been chatting about what he thinks could make an intriguing spinoff for the Game of Thrones world, and honestly, his idea’s bang on.
What Happens When the Targaryens Lose Their Dragons?
So, Condal had a bit of a chinwag with GamesRadar+, and they asked him what corner of George R.R. Martin’s universe he’d most like to poke at. He didn’t hold back. His pitch? A series focusing on a period when the Targaryens still have absolute control of Westeros – but their all-important dragons have disappeared.
There’s an in-between point where the Targaryens are still ruling as a powerful dynasty. And I think there’s a really fascinating story to be told there, in the fresh wake of our particular period of history: how do you pursue rule when you don’t have the threat of these nuclear weapons at your fingertips, like you did in your recent past? That seems like an interesting place to explore for me.'
He’s not actually teasing a secret new show (yet), but honestly, if HBO happen to be sniffing round for ideas, this one’s ready to go.
Why the Targaryens Minus Dragons is Actually Brilliant
Let’s not pretend: everyone loves the Targaryens. Mad hair, flash frocks, a complete lack of chill – and of course, dragons. But Condal’s idea has proper teeth. There’s a stretch in Martin’s giant blob of lore where the family’s clinging on to the throne even though their winged nukes are extinct. Imagine all the plotting and politicking – still lording it over Westeros, but the one thing that’s kept everyone in line just... gone. It’s basically political drama, minus the fire-breathing insurance policy.
- The Targaryens’ dynasty stretches for ages, so there’s a massive cast of wild royals to choose from.
- The era after the dragons die out is heavily hinted at in the books but hasn’t been touched on-screen.
- This setting means more backstabbing and anxiety – they can’t just threaten to roast rivals whenever things look dicey.
- It’s perfect for the sort of in-fighting and succession chaos that Thrones fans actually love.
As it stands, HBO’s got a stack of other Thrones spin-offs floating in various stages of maybe-happening – so no guarantees we’ll get Condal’s vision. But should the powers-that-be fancy another roll of the dice once House of the Dragon winds up, this one’s a no-brainer.