Behind the Scenes: Misunderstandings and Secrets in House of the Dragon's Casting Process

The fantasy series set in a richly detailed world has captivated audiences, generating immense enthusiasm following its launch. As a noteworthy addition to the celebrated Game of Thrones saga, the prequel has sparked interest regarding its narrative quality and character depth, reminiscent of the original's earlier seasons. Among its impressive ensemble is actor Fabien Frankel, who experienced initial confusion regarding the nature of his role. The actor was caught off guard upon discovering he would be part of the intricate realm of Westeros. This ambiguity is not unique to him, as many involved in the production were similarly uninformed. HBO is known for its veil of secrecy surrounding its projects, and House of the Dragon followed suit. While fans eagerly speculate about plot developments, numerous cast members joined the series with only fragmentary details.

Fabien Frankel's interpretation of Ser Criston Cole resonated well with audiences, establishing him as one of the franchise's most loathed figures. What surprised him was the lack of clarity during the audition stage, which he illustrated during a discussion with an interviewer.

Initially, I encountered a character named Ser Clint and assumed it belonged to a Western genre. He appeared to be a rather cynical figure, quite distant from who the character ultimately became. For a time, I had no updates. They mentioned they sought someone resembling Jason Momoa, which I found amusing.

Frankel mistakenly envisioned it as a Western narrative, humorously conveying his thoughts about the character’s bitter demeanor, which was far from the truth. His light-hearted perspective sheds light on the uncertainty actors often face during the casting stages.

The trend of ambiguous casting practices was not exclusive to Frankel. Tom Glynn-Carney, portraying Aegon II Targaryen, echoed similar sentiments. He also noted the mysterious nature of his audition experience and the use of replica scripts.

For me, there was no clear indication about the actual show we were to be part of. The sides were vague; I was unaware it was specifically for House of the Dragon.

The tone seemed medieval and somewhat classical, which attracted me greatly. I initially believed it to be a theatrical piece until I learned the true context.

Eventually, clarity emerged after he engaged in a discussion with the creators of the series via a video call. Such confidentiality is typical of major productions such as House of the Dragon, where safeguarding the storyline is crucial. Nonetheless, it's amusing to observe how even those within the project misinterpreted the material at first.

You can watch House of the Dragon on HBO Max.