House of the Dragon Season 3 Release Date Confirmed!

The release date for season three has been confirmed - as a high-octane teaser dropped. 

A prequel to smash-hit , the fantasy series first hit screens back in 2022.

House of the Dragon is returning for an eight-episode third season and fans do not have long to wait.

It will be launching from June 22 on HBO Max, with further episodes airing weekly until the finale on August 10.

Major cast members including , Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans and will be back for season three.

Also appearing are Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, Matthew Needham, and .

Rounding out the ensemble are Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew, Kurt Egyiawan, Freddie Fox, Clinton Liberty, Gayle Rankin, Abubakar Salim, Tom Cullen, Tommy Flanagan, Dan Fogler, Joplin Sibtain, and Barry Sloane.

Previously, fans shared their excitement as a very violent season three trailer dropped - with warring soldiers butchered and burned alive.

Writing in the comments section, one fan penned: 'Now we are talking.'

Another added: 'This season is dark and full of terrors.' 

A third shared: 'My boy, Daemon finally getting the Action he deserves!!'

A fourth chimed in: 'This series is so dark, so tragic and epic...pure gold.'

While a fifth agreed: 'This looks better than season 2. Let's hope it delivers.'

Elsewhere, viewers of were left devastated by a heartbreaking death.

Set a century before Game of Thrones, A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms follows a lowborn knight named Dunk (Peter Claffey) and his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). 

Titled In the Name of the Mother, the storyline featured the dreaded Trial of the Seven.

Prince Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) aligned with main character Dunk's team - in an unexpected move.

This was an attempt to protect his brother and nephews, who were on the opposing side.

Although an honourable decision, Baelor unfortunately met a tragic end in the episode.

Baelor's skull was crushed by a mace belonging to his brother Maekar (Sam Spruell) and he succumbed to these wounds.

Writing on X, one viewer penned: 'Baelor Targaryen you will be missed by all.' 

Another added: 'Baelor take me with you.'

A third commented: 'All of us at Baelor's funeral', alongside a crying emoji.

While a fourth said:  'Just want to give a huge round of applause to Bertie Carvel for his performance as Baelor Targaryen.

'He really brought to life one of the best Asoiaf characters.'

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Ira Parker said of Baelor: 'At so young in his life, he became this war hero, this savior of the kingdom and the realm.

'Because of his nature, everybody’s telling him how honorable he is and how he’s gonna make the greatest king that Westeros has ever had since the Conqueror. 

'And then finally a moment comes for him to actually put up when his honor is tested in truth. Virtue untested is no virtue at all.'