'House of the Dragon' Season 2 first look: new cast members, photos and teaser trailer

Calling all "Game of Thrones" fans: the next season of the Targaryen spin-off "House of the Dragon" is well in the works. Set to premiere this summer, the second season includes a new cast of characters and actors set to appear alongside last season's favorites.

HBO has dropped first-look images and a teaser video for fans dying to get a sneak peek at what's in store for the Targaryen family's hold on the Iron Throne. Dark (but hopefully not too dark?) and moody as ever, the previews seem to offer promises of another dramatic, suspenseful season to come.

Read on for more details and first looks.

When is 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 coming out?

"House of the Dragon" Season 2 is set to debut in the summer of 2024. HBO recently released the official teaser for its original series during a CCXP23 panel in São Paulo, Brazil.

The eight-episode second season will stream on HBO Max.

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How to watch 'House of the Dragon' Season 2

"House of the Dragon" is an HBO original series, meaning it is only available for streaming directly from HBO. The new season will stream via HBO Max come the 2024 debut, which requires a subscription.

Customers can get an HBO Max subscription via a traditional online sign-up or through their TV provider. Plans range in price from $9.99 a month to $19.99 a month.

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'House of the Dragon' Season 2 cast

Many new arrivals will make an appearance in the upcoming season alongside familiar faces from the initial cast. Returning cast members include:

• Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen 
• Olivia Cooke as adult Alicent Hightower
• Emma D’Arcy as adult 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 
• Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower 
• Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon
• Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
• Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
• Phia Saban as Halaena Targaryen
• Jefferson Hall as Tyland and Jason Lannister
• Matthew Needham as Larys Strong

New characters and new actors will also be introduced this season, including:

• Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
• Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome
• Kieran Bew as Hugh
• Tom Bennett as Ulf
• Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark
• Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne
• Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
• Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
• Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower
• Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong

What is 'House of the Dragon' about?

Based on George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," the series, set 200 years before the events of hit series "Game of Thrones," tells the story of House Targaryen.

Taking place 172 years before the birth of perhaps the most well-recognized house member, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), who played a large part in the plot of GoT, the series centers around the plight of the Targaryen family who hold the throne under King Viserys I.

The issue of who will take over the Iron Throne after the king serves as the primary conflict, with one side of the family wanting Viserys’ daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) to take charge, while the other side prefers Visery’s eldest son.

According to the history as written in the original books and implied in the GoT television series, this will lead to a bloody civil war that destroys the Targaryen house and eventually to the initial events of GoT, where we see descendants Daenerys and her brother Viserys III living in exile years after their family is ousted from power.