House of the Dragon has been hiding one final Targaryen character, and he’s set to finally appear in season 3. House of the Dragon season 3 has recently wrapped filming, ending a several-month-long shoot to prepare the series for its planned 2026 release. This will include the introduction of several new characters, from James Norton’s Ormund Hightower to Tommy Flanagan’s Ser Roderick Dustin, and more.
From Game of Thrones to House of the Dragon, the number of Targaryens audiences have been introduced to has increased exponentially, but there are still more to come as the Dance of the Dragons barrels toward its finish. HBO has planned for two more seasons, meaning plenty of time to explore new characters. While there’s still some obscurity surrounding the casting, one of House of the Dragon’s many new characters will be Daeron Targaryen, another member of the royal family who will play a prominent role in the upcoming conflict.
Daeron Targaryen is the Third Son of Viserys I & Alicent Hightower
House of the Dragon’s Targaryen family tree can be quite confusing, even for fans who have read Fire & Blood. Viserys and Alicent Hightower have four children: Aegon II, Aemond, Helaena, and Daeron Targaryen. Daeron is only meant to be a few years younger than Aemond, but the TV series altered his upbringing to have him be raised in Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower in the Reach. This is why, in season 2, Alicent asks Sir Gwayne Hightower to tell her about her son and his character; she hasn’t seen him in years.
Given the differences between Daeron’s childhood and those of his brothers, who grew up in the Red Keep, Gwayne suggests that Daeron is a much kinder young man. It will be compelling to see how this gentle personality handles the oncoming war, as season 2’s montage ending saw the Hightower forces marching toward the conflict. The army was joined by Daeron’s young blue dragon, Tessarion, who had just grown large enough to take flight with a rider. They’re green as can be, and the war is bound to have a devastating effect on them.
House of the Dragon season 2 saw both the Black and Green factions have their ups and downs, but the general standing seemed favorable to Rhaenyra by the end. The recruitment of new dragonriders has elevated lowborn bastards into some of the most powerful men in the Seven Kingdoms, and Rhaenyra is now significantly ahead in the arms race that will determine the future of Westeros, even if Aemond still rides the largest and most powerful dragon in the Seven Kingdoms.
Daeron and Tessarion are both young and lack experience, but that won’t stop them from making an impact. As proven by Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, even smaller dragons and inexperienced riders can make a drastic impact on the politics of Westeros when placed in the right situation. Daeron will be a major player in House of the Dragon season 3, and there’s a reason he’s known in Game of Thrones history as “Daeron the Daring.”
‘House of the Dragon’s Daeron Casting Isn’t Clear
As mentioned, House of the Dragon season 3 has already wrapped filming, but HBO and Warner Bros. have yet to officially reveal the casting for this character. Various sources and social media accounts have shared behind-the-scenes photos and videos claiming that it’s child actor Charlie Gordon suited up as Daeron Targaryen on set, but until the studio makes an official announcement, it’s impossible to officially confirm anything.
House of the Dragon has been marked for a Summer 2026 release window, so the coming months will likely see trailers and more official information released. Given that it’s a child actor playing Daeron, HBO may be holding off on the news to protect the actor from online discourse. This is likely the right move, especially given the polarizing and often unsavory responses to choices made in season 2.
- Release Date
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August 21, 2022
- Network
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HBO
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Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
