After two weeks of stellar performances on HBO Max, House of the Dragonco-showrunner and director Miguel Sapochnik is stepping down from the series, leaving Ryan Condal to serve as the show’s sole showrunner.
Why? Sources tell the Hollywood Reporter that Sapochnik is exiting the show after three exhausting years of effort and work to launch the Game of Thrones prequel. Sapochnik and Condal worked closely with George R. R. Martin to develop House of the Dragon with HBO after the series finale of Game of Thrones left fans wanting more.
Miguel Sapochnik on the set of the first season of 'House of the Dragon'Credit: Courtesy of HBO
Sapochnik has this to say about his exit from the show:
"Working within the Thrones universe for the past few years has been an honor and a privilege, especially spending the last two with the amazing cast and crew of House of the Dragon. I am so proud of what we accomplished with season 1 and overjoyed by the enthusiastic reaction of our viewers. It was incredibly tough to decide to move on, but I know that it is the right choice for me, personally and professionally. As I do so, though, I am deeply comforted to know that Alan will be joining the series. He’s someone I’ve known and respected for a long time, and I believe this precious series could not be in safer hands. I am so glad to remain a part of the HBO and House of the Dragon family and, of course, I wish Ryan and his team success and all the best with season 2 and beyond."
Emmy-winning Game of Thrones vet Alan Taylor will be joining the Dragon team for season two.
“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be back at HBO, immersing myself in the world of the Targaryens,” Taylor said in a statement. “Ryan, Miguel, and George have launched an extraordinary story, in a rich and fascinating world. Returning to Westeros will be a huge undertaking and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Sapochnik’s choice to leave comes after delivering the series premiere, which brought 25 million viewers to HBO Max.
'House of the Dragon'Credit: Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
HBO added to the statement, saying:
"Miguel Sapochnik has done amazing work on the first season of House of the Dragon, establishing its signature look and feel. This series simply could not have come together the way it did without him. While we would have loved to have Miguel continue in the same role, we are thrilled to have his ongoing collaboration in this new creative capacity. Looking forward, we’ve had a decades-long relationship with Alan Taylor, and we are delighted to have him join Ryan and [the] rest [of] the talented team."
One thing is for sure–House of the Dragon is a beast of a show. The elaborate design and storytelling of the series are enough work for two people, but then you also have the added drama of HBO and the future of the streaming platform. HBO already had issues figuring out when to debut the series, so it is hard to judge when and how they will release the show.
We will keep our eyes open and let you know what the future holds for House of the Dragon.
Have you been keeping up with the series? Let us know what you think of House of the Dragon in the comments!
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
