House of the Dragon's first season consisted of 10 episodes, but when the Game of Thrones prequel eventually returns, it will be with only 8 instalments.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via SFFGazette.com), series director Claire Kilner addressed the decision for the second season to consist of fewer episodes. However, it sounds like we can all expect to spend a hefty amount of time in Westeros across the course of this next batch of episodes.
Noting that season 2 consists of "eight wonderful episodes with so much happening in every episode," she added that "we have trouble, at times, bringing them down to one hour."
According to Kilner, House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal set out "to give [season 2] a good opening and a good ending."
The director concluded by promising season 2 of the show will be "jam-packed with emotional and visually exciting events." All of this lines up with earlier reports that the reason this episode count has been reduced isn't to save money, but in order to better service the story.
However, with both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA members on strike, we don't anticipate seeing the series back on HBO until late next year. HBO and Max chief content officer Casey Bloys previously confirmed as much when he warned fans, "Don’t expect it in 2023."
Returning cast members in House of the Dragon season 2 include Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, and Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower.
Back in April, Gayle Rankin, Simon Russell Beale, Freddie Fox, and Abubakar Salim were announced to have joined the show for its second season as Alys Rivers, Ser Simon Strong, Ser Gwayne Hightower and Alyn of Hull, respectively.
Stay tuned to SFFGazette.com for the latest House of the Dragon updates.