Ryan Condal, the showrunner and co-creator of “House of the Dragon,” said at SXSW London that Season 3 will continue the conflict and fallout left at the end of Season 2, with rival factions becoming increasingly divided from within as ambition, pride, power, family loyalty, and self-interest drive the story forward. Speaking during a panel moderated by Empire’s Helen O’Hara at Shoreditch Town Hall in East London, Condal said the new season would feel relentless, with events accelerating once they begin and “never” stopping. He also emphasized that the season is the largest production the series has made so far, citing the scale of the shoot, the number of locations, and the extensive construction work behind it.
The upcoming season will open with the Battle of the Gullet, a major naval engagement in the Dance of the Dragons civil war. Condal described the sequence as a landmark television event, saying it is unlike anything previously done on TV. He compared the challenge to staging a defining battle in “Lord of the Rings,” arguing that a moment of that size must be shown rather than merely referred to. Production designer Jim Clay said the battle had been in development for years and required enormous logistical planning, including separate dry and wet tank setups, a full-scale ship build, and detailed coordination across departments. Clay also noted that the sequence drew inspiration from “Master and Commander” and involved complex practical effects, water work, and hazardous set conditions.
The cast also shared updates on their characters’ arcs. Steve Toussaint said Lord Corlys Velaryon, also known as the Sea Snake, begins Season 3 still grieving the death of Rhaenys Targaryen while trying to reconnect with his illegitimate son Alyn of Hull, who wants little to do with him. Harry Collett described Jacaerys Velaryon as a frustrated teenager who believes his mother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, is making poor choices, even as he remains a natural leader. Abubakar Salim said Alyn enters the season volatile and raw, but gradually matures as the story develops.
Abigail Thorn, who plays Admiral Sharako Lohar, said she developed her own backstory for the character beyond the source material and approached the role with inspiration from “Moby-Dick,” viewing Sharako as a Captain Ahab figure driven by a relentless mission to bring down Corlys. Toussaint echoed that the two characters are locked in a long-running, inevitable confrontation.
The actors and production team described extensive physical preparation for the battle scenes, including weeks of stunt choreography, armor tests, sword training, boxing, and combat rehearsals. Several cast members said the heavy armor and shifting ship sets made filming physically demanding, but also helped create the chaos and intensity of the battle. Condal said the season explores the corrupting effect of power and the question of what the throne does to those who get close to it.
