‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 cast revealed; a mix of familiar faces and notable omissions

When ‘House of the Dragon’, the highly anticipated ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff, commenced production on its second season earlier this year, HBO delighted fans by confirming the returning stars who will continue to shape the epic tale set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, chronicling the legendary House Targaryen.

Ryan Condal, the series' co-creator, showrunner, and executive producer, expressed his enthusiasm for the new season, stating, “House of the Dragon has returned.We are thrilled to be shooting again with members of our original family as well as new talents on both sides of the camera. All your favourite characters will soon be conspiring at the council tables, marching with their armies, and riding their dragons into battle. We can’t wait to share what we have in store”.
HBO has officially confirmed the return of 16 key actors for the upcoming season, promising to bring back the beloved characters fans have come to cherish. Notably, three fan-favourite actors from the previous season were deliberately omitted from the list, meeting expectations set by earlier speculation. The exclusions were unrelated to characters who met their demise in the storyline.
Among the returning cast members are Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower, and more.
However, the announcement hinted at notable absences, including Milly Alcock, who portrayed the young Rhaenyra in the first season, and Emily Carey, who portrayed the young Alicent. With the storyline shifting to focus on the older versions of these characters, their absence is part of the narrative evolution.

Graham McTavish's status as Ser Harrold Westerling remains uncertain, as he was last seen in episode nine of the previous season. McTavish's potential return or departure remains a mystery, leaving fans to speculate about the character's fate.
As House of the Dragon prepares to unfold a new chapter in the Targaryen saga, the confirmed cast brings a mix of familiar faces and fresh talent to the screen, promising an engaging continuation of the epic fantasy tale.