House of the Dragon Season 3 Premiere Drops Early for Select Fans
House of the Dragon season 3 is swooping in early for a lucky few: the premiere will screen at Italy’s Taormina Film Festival before its official HBO return later this month, with cast members expected on the ground.
Fancy catching the brand new 'House of the Dragon' episode before the rest of us? Well, unless you happen to be in Sicily and know the right people, it's probably not on the cards. But if you're curious, here's what's going down: the season 3 opener of HBO's 'Game of Thrones' prequel is getting a rather swanky debut at Italy's Taormina Film Festival—fully two weeks before it hits TV screens elsewhere. Never say HBO doesn't know how to make a big entrance.
Early Birds in Sicily
Variety reports that the first episode of 'House of the Dragon' season 3 is set to launch the Taormina Film Festival this year. The festival runs from June 10th to the 14th in the historic Sicilian town of Taormina—a location with its own massive Greek amphitheatre, just for those who like a bit of grandeur with their telly. If you're lucky enough to get inside, you'll be watching the show nearly two weeks ahead of its official release on HBO.
Who's Turning Up
Several cast members are making the journey to Sicily for the festivities. If you're at the festival, you might spot:
- Steve Toussaint
- Harry Collett
- Bethany Antonia
- Phoebe Campbell
They'll be mingling with the crowd at the premiere, set inside the ancient amphitheatre. Not a bad way to kick off your press tour.
When the Rest of Us Get a Look
For everyone not in Sicily, the wait isn't outrageously long. HBO is rolling out episode 1 of season 3 in the United States on June 21st at 9 p.m. Eastern. Viewers in Italy get it a day later, on June 22nd. There are eight episodes in total for this run, with the show sticking to weekly drops until the finale on August 9th.
More Fire, More Blood
If you're somehow not up to speed: 'House of the Dragon' is set centuries before the events of 'Game of Thrones', during the infamous Targaryen family bust-up known as the Dance of the Dragons. It's all drawn from George R. R. Martin's historical tome 'Fire & Blood'. Season two ended with the Greens and Blacks on the cusp of all-out war, and just about every power player in Westeros picking sides. Season 3 promises even bigger battles—expect a fair few dragons having a bad day.
'The opening episode will be screened to festival attendees nearly two weeks before it debuts on TV and streaming.'