‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Adds 4 New Cast Members

HBO has announced four new cast members for ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Read here to see who’s joining the Dance of the Dragons!

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house of the dragon season 2 casting announcement; emma d'arcy in house of the dragon season 1

Get ready to fly back to Westeros! Season two of House of the Dragon is underway, and HBO has officially revealed some new faces that will be bringing some key characters from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood to life.

Keep reading to see who will be joining the fight for the Iron Throne during the Dance of the Dragons in HBO’s House of the Dragon season two.

Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower

Freddie Fox photographed for Telegraph Magazine; still of Ser Gwayne Hightower in season one of House of the Dragon
IMAGES VIA TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE, HBO

In Fire & Blood, Ser Gwayne Hightower is the son of Otto Hightower and one of Queen Alicent’s brothers. An officer of the City Watch and knight from House Hightower, Ser Gwayne fights for the Greens. Eagle-eyed fans will know that we catch a brief glimpse of Ser Gwayne in the series premiere of House of the Dragon just before he is unhorsed during the tourney by Daemon Targaryen.

You may have caught some of Freddie Fox’s previous work in Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, BBC’s Worried About the Boy, and Hulu’s The Great.

Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers

gayle rankin; illustration of alys rivers in a song of ice and fire
IMAGES VIA FRAZER HARRISON, HYLORA (VIA A WIKI OF ICE AND FIRE)

Alys Rivers is an alleged witch who has prophetic visions and becomes a key figure among the Greens. A resident of Harrenhal, Alys is also a healer.

Gayle Rankin is best known for her roles in The Greatest Showman and Netflix’s GLOW. You can also catch her work in HBO’s Perry Mason and the Hulu miniseries Kindred.

Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong

image of simon russell beale; illustration of harrenal in a song of ice and fire
IMAGES VIA ANDREW CROWLEY, LINO DRIEGHE (VIA A WIKI OF ICE AND FIRE)

In Fire & Blood, Ser Simon Strong is the great-uncle of Lord Larys Strong, played in House of the Dragon by Matthew Needham. Ser Simon is the Castellan of Harrenhal.

A decorated actor, Simon Russell Beale has won two BAFTAs, three Olivier Awards, and a Tony Award for his role in The Lehman Trilogy. Check out his previous work in The Death of Stalin, Operation Finale, and Mary Queen of Scots before season two of House of the Dragon lands.

Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull

abubakar salim; illustration of the stepstones in a song of ice and fire
IMAGES VIA ABUBAKAR SALIM, JUAN CARLOS BARQUET (VIA A WIKI OF ICE AND FIRE)

Alyn of Hull is a sailor in the Valeryon fleet who served during the battle for the Stepstones.

Abubakar Salim has previously appeared in HBO Max’s Raised by Wolves, The Legend of Vox Machina, and voiced Bayek in the video game Assassin’s Creed: Origins and Valhalla.


HBO’s House of the Dragon took audiences by storm fire and blood, drawing in millions of viewers each episode during season one. The much anticipated season two of House of the Dragon is currently in production and is expected to premiere in 2024.

Starring Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, and Rhys Ifans, House of the Dragon brings to life the bloody Targaryen civil war, the Dance of the Dragons, detailed in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood.

Want to stay up to date on all things House of the Dragon season two? Keep an eye on Bookstr for more production news, casting announcements, and anything else Westerosi.

FEATURED IMAGE VIA HBO