Game of Thrones may have ended just over two years ago, but George R.R. Martin’s fictional world Westeros is still making its way to our screens. The only confirmed Game of Thrones-related project House of the Dragon is set to premiere in 2022. This prequel is set 300 years before the events shown in the Game of Thrones television series and predominantly focuses on the reign of House Targaryen, including the infamous civil war known as the “Dance of the Dragons.” The show is based on Martin’s fictional history Fire & Blood.
In the past few months, more information has been revealed about the show, specifically casting announcements. Recently, one of the stars, Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One, Sound of Metal), spoke about the audition process she underwent for House of the Dragon, giving fans a glimpse as to how secretive and complicated the process actually was.
According to Winter is Coming, Cooke (who will portray Alicent Hightower on the show) spoke to Good Morning America about her audition experience. Cooke described the whole process as “extensive.” While she doesn’t remember exactly how many auditions she underwent, she says she did “loads” and then waited on hold for six weeks. During that period, she was “sworn to secrecy,” and once she learned she got the part was “sworn to more secrecy before the press release got out.”
Cooke finished reflecting on her audition experience by saying once the press release was publicized and her friends learned she got the part, they asked Cooke why she never told them before. Cooke joked, “I was so scared that someone was gonna come and abduct me and make me disappear.”
During the interview, Cooke was asked if she watched the original Game of Thrones show. She said she watched the first season, but never continued. Understandably, she didn’t want to try and watch again until she learned whether or not she would star in House of the Dragon, not wanting to get “too invested” and then learn she didn’t receive the role. Since learning she would star in House of the Dragon, Cooke has seen every episode of Game of Thrones and happily claims that she is “obsessed.”
To read more of Bookstr’s coverage about House of the Dragon, click here!