‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel ‘House of the Dragon’ to Star Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen

English actor Paddy Considine has been cast in the leading role of King Viserys I, the father of Rhaenyra and Aegon II,  on HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon,” TheWrap has learned.

“House of the Dragon” was co-created by co-created by George R.R. Martin and “Colony” co-creator Ryan Condal based on Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” The 10-episode show is set in the early days of Westeros and focuses on House Targaryen, the family that Emila Clarke’s Daenerys belonged to, along with her brother Viserys (Harry Lloyd) and nephew Aegon Targaryen a.k.a. Jon Snow (Kit Harington). The series is based on Martin’s “Fire & Blood” book, which details the lineage of the Targaryens, and takes place 300 years before the events of “Game of Thrones.”

“The Outsider’s” Considine, the first actor to join “House of the Dragon,” will star as King Viserys Targaryen, who was chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council at Harrenhal. Per the character description, Viserys is “a warm, kind, and decent man” and “only wishes to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy.” However, “good men do not necessarily make for great kings.”

Also Read: 'Game of Thrones' Prequel 'House of the Dragon' to Premiere in 2022

Miguel Sapochnik — who directed several fan-favorite episodes of “GoT,” such as “The Long Night,” “Battle of the Bastards” and “Hardhome” — and Condal will serve as co-showrunners on “House of the Dragon” and executive produce alongside Martin,Vince Gerardis and Sara Lee Hess. Sapochnik will direct the pilot and additional episodes.

In January, HBO programming head Casey Bloys told TheWrap he expected “House of the Dragon” to premiere in 2022. “They are in-room writing,” Bloys said during the Television Critics Association press tour. “My suspicion is, this is looking a ways out, but my suspicion is it would be on air sometime in 2022. That’s with a big asterisk, but right now, that’s what I would say.”

Considine is best known for his roles in “The Third Day,” “The Outsider,” “Journeyman,” “Peaky Blinders,” “Hot Fuzz,” “Dead Man’s Shoes,” “In America” and “The Ferryman.”

He is repped by Nick Forgacs at Independent Talent Group, and Michael Cooper at Range Media Partners.