House Of The Dragon Season 3's Great New Casting Makes Cutting Prince Maelor Worse & Highlights Another Big Missing Character

Includes SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, which could happen in HOTD season 3.

House of the Dragon has announced its first new cast member for season 3, raising some immediate questions and concerns about associated characters. The HBO prequel show is based on Fire & Blood, a companion piece to George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice & Fire book series. With that in mind and the teases set up in House of the Dragon's season 2 ending, it's fairly easy to predict which characters audiences will get to see in the next set of episodes.

An article from Varietyannounced the first new actor joining House of the Dragon season 3, who will be playing Ormund Hightower. Many of season 2's criticisms highlighted the lack of expected action sequences and the shortened episode count, raising concerns that two more seasons might not be enough to finish the events of the Dance of the Dragons. The remaining episodes will have to quicken the pace, jumping between battles around Westeros and introducing several new supporting characters.

Ormund Hightower Explained & Who Plays Him In House Of The Dragon Season 3

James Norton Will Play Otto Hightower's Nephew

Ormund Hightower is the head of House Hightower during the Dance of the Dragons. He's the son of Hobert Hightower, the older brother of Ser Otto Hightower, whom audiences saw in the first season. This makes him Otto's nephew. Though Otto has brought great honor to his house by being the Hand of the King and joining the Hightowers with the Targaryen dynasty's line, he's still Hobert's younger brother and the nobility line passes down to Ormund. As the head of his house, Ormund rallied the Hightower forces and spent season 2 marching them toward King's Landing from the Reach.

In House of the Dragon season 3, Ormund will be played by 39-year-old actor James Norton. His work may not be as familiar to American audiences, but he's a celebrated star in England with credits like Happy Valley, Grantchester, and the celebrated 2024 Bill Nighy movie Joy. His Hollywood film roles include Greta Gerwig's Little Women and Bob Marley: One Love. With such a talented actor involved, Ormund could be a more exciting character than expected, highlighting some concerns with the characters surrounding him and his narrative.

Ormund Hightower's Casting Means Daeron Targaryen Must Finally Be Cast Soon

We'll Meet HOTD's Daeron Fairly Soon

Daeron Targaryen and his dragon Tessarion in Dance of the Dragons from Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin.

With Ormund Hightower being cast, news about an actor for Daeron Targaryen should be released soon, as they'll likely be sharing their first batch of scenes together. Daeron is the third son of Alicent and Vicerys, making him Aegon and Aemond's younger brother. Daeron's dragon, Tessarion, was shown in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale's closing montage, accompanying the Hightower forces as they marched. Daeron himself, however, has yet to appear despite being present at King's Landing throughout the story so far in the book.

his casting should be announced in the near future, with them planning to start filming in March.

Many anticipated that he would be cast late in season 1 or finally in season 2, but this didn't happen. Daeron Targaryen was finally mentioned in House of the Dragon season 2, clarifying that he was being raised in Oldtown by House Hightower as a ward, which isn't a particularly glaring change from the source material. He'll be absolutely necessary for season 3, though, and his casting should be announced in the near future, with them planning to start filming in March. Other important characters related to this plotline include Lord Unwin Peake and the other Caltrops.

Ormund & Daeron Make Cutting Prince Maelor Seem Even Worse

The Maelor Omission Will Have A Ripple Effect

Ormund Hightower and Daeron Targaryen being cast is really exciting, but it seems like one of their most powerful moments from the book might not be happening. Prince Maelor Targaryen is the second son of Aegon II in the book, though he controversially didn't appear in House of the Dragon season 2, suggesting he doesn't exist in the show's interpretation. This matters due to an event called the Sack of Butterbridge, which occurs after Maelor's death in the book and involves Ormund and Daeron.

After Rhaenyra recaptures King's Landing, Ser Rickard Thorne flees the capital with Prince Maelor, but he runs into trouble at Butterbridge, where he's killed and Maelor is accidentally crushed to death. In response, Daeron takes Tessarion and brings the town to ruin. It's one of the most gruesome events that could've happened in House of the Dragon, and now it's either going to require new context or be scrapped altogether. Hopefully, the show will provide equally compelling material for Ormund, Daeron, and any other new characters.

Sources: Variety