Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower in HBO's "House of the...

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower in HBO's "House of the Dragon." Credit: HBO / Ollie Upton

"House of the Dragon," the previously announced prequel to the concluded HBO epic-fantasy series "Game of Thrones," has a release date.

The premium-cable network announced Wednesday that the 10-episode drama will debut Aug. 21. Based on George R.R. Martin's 2018 novel "Fire & Blood," the series, set 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones," tells the story of House Targaryen. Starring are Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen; Matt Smith as his younger brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen; Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King; Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen; and others including Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans.

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"House of the Dragon," the previously announced prequel to the concluded HBO epic-fantasy series "Game of Thrones," has a release date.

The premium-cable network announced Wednesday that the 10-episode drama will debut Aug. 21. Based on George R.R. Martin's 2018 novel "Fire & Blood," the series, set 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones," tells the story of House Targaryen. Starring are Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen; Matt Smith as his younger brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen; Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King; Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen; and others including Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans.