Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy Join HBO’s House of the Dragon Series

HBO”s Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon has added The Eleventh Doctor himself to House Targaryen in Matt Smith. THR reports that Smith, who played said iteration of the Doctor in Doctor Who, has been cast in the series along with Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One) and Emma D’Arcy (Wanderlust).

Smith will play Prince Daemon Targaryen, described as the “younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne. A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon. But it is said that whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air.” Paddy Considine is playing King Viserys.

Cooke will play Alicent Hightower, described by the network as “the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, and the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace and a keen political acumen.”

Finally, D’Arcy will portray Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, described as “the king’s first-born child, she is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything … but she was not born a man.”

The series has also tapped Greg Yaitanes to direct and co-executive produce, with Clare Kilmer and Geeta V. Patel also set to direct episodes. The series is co-created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, with Condal writing the script alongside Sara Lee Hess. Condal will co-showrun alongisde Miguel Sapochnik, who will direct the pilot and additional episodes.

House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood and will chronicle the rise and the downfall of the Targaryens, who is the only family of dragon lords to survive the Doom of Valyria. It will take place 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones.