'House of the Dragon,' the 'Game of Thrones' prequel, debuts in August

Winter isn't coming, but dragons are.

The premiere date for the highly anticipated "Game of Thrones" prequel, "House of the Dragon," on HBO Max has been announced -- Aug. 21.

Based on George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood" book, set hundreds of years before the events of "Game of Thrones," "House of the Dragon" is a deep dive into the history of House Targaryen, ancestors of "Game of Thrones" tragic heroine Daenerys Targaryen, who was played by Emilia Clarke.

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The show centers on a brutal familial civil war that erupted over control of the legendary Iron Throne.

To that end, new photos of some of the cast in character have also been released, including: Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen; Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen; Olivie Cooke as Alicent Hightower; Rhys Ifans as Alicent's father, Otto Hightower; Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen; Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon; Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, and Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole.