Westeros is preparing for yet another fiery clash, as ‘House of the Dragon’ barrels toward its most awaited chapter yet. Ever since HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel premiered in 2022, the series has quickly built its own loyal fanbase.
Season 2 intensified the conflict between the Blacks and the Greens, setting the stage for a brutal war that will finally erupt in season 3. Now, star Olivia Cooke, who brings Queen Alicent Hightower to life, has given fans a promising update on the highly anticipated third season. Not only did she confirm when filming will wrap, but she also teased that what’s coming is “ridiculous” in scope.
Olivia Cooke Confirms Season 3 Wrap Schedule
In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Cooke revealed that filming for ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 began in April 2025 and will officially conclude in October. That means the production is currently past its halfway mark. By Cooke’s own account, the cast and crew are tackling an enormous workload.
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“We started in April, so we are done in October. We’re over halfway and it’s massive,” Cooke explained, laughing at just how over-the-top the scale has become. She went on to call the stunt work “mad,” emphasizing that the third season has relied heavily on practical effects and action-heavy sequences. For a series that already boasts giant dragon battles, blood-soaked duels, and shocking betrayals, Cooke’s comments about the new episodes being “actually ridiculous” hint at an even bigger escalation.
Given that season 2 closed with both sides of the looming civil war locked in unrelenting conflict, it makes sense that the showrunners are pushing the limits of what they can achieve onscreen. Filming primarily takes place in the United Kingdom. However, the show has also used locations in Spain to capture the sweeping vistas of Westeros. Once production wraps in October, the series will move into the long process of post-production.
Although HBO has yet to set an official premiere date, history offers some clues. Season 1 debuted in August 2022, while season 2 premiered in June 2024. If the schedule holds, season 3 is most likely to hit screens in the summer of 2026. That might feel like a long wait. However, Cooke’s promise of jaw-dropping action suggests it will be worth it.0
‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3 To Fix Season 2 Finale Criticisms
While ‘House of the Dragon’ has mostly been embraced by fans, its second season faced a more mixed reception compared to its stellar debut. Rotten Tomatoes scores dipped from 90% in season 1 to 83% in season 2, with some fans criticizing its pacing and finale structure. Even George R.R. Martin, the author of Fire & Blood, voiced dissatisfaction, noting that the adaptation drifted from his source material in crucial ways.
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Olivia Cooke, however, has reassured audiences that season 3 is designed to course-correct. Speaking with Collider, she admitted that the explosive first two episodes of season 3 were originally planned to be the climax of season 2. This creative reshuffling, while controversial at the time, may actually work in the show’s favor. Additionally, the upcoming season can now begin “with a bang.”
“I think I can say… it starts off with a bang. The first two [episodes] were essentially supposed to be our finale last year. So you can just imagine coming into that sort of energy. It’s bigger and more ferocious than ever before,” Cooke teased. That “ferocity” likely refers to the full outbreak of the Targaryen civil war known in lore as the Dance of the Dragons.
By the end of season 2, Queen Alicent’s son King Aegon II lay gravely injured, while Rhaenyra Targaryen continued to grieve the brutal death of her son Lucerys Velaryon from season 1. Both sides have suffered devastating losses, but season 3 promises to escalate the violence to unimaginable heights.
