HBO is getting ready to explore the greater world of Westeros in the upcoming Game of Thrones sequel series House of Dragons, but the network is already prepping a second series, according to a report from Variety; this time, though, it's animated.

　　HBO has not commented on the story, so we know nothing apart from that. Whether the show is sequel, prequel, or side story, and whether it deals with characters we know, are all up in the air.

　　The animated series, along with the recently-rumored Dunk and Egg series, according to THR, is "part of a larger strategy to expand the world of creator George R.R. Martin's fantasy drama," with network execs working directly with the author to expand his world.

　　We know a lot more about House of Dragons. The prequel series, which may already be shooting, is a ten-episode season set 300 years before the events of the Game of Thrones series. Inspired by the author's Fire & Blood, which acts as a sort of historical account of Westeros, the series focuses on the rise of House Targaryen. The series began casting this summer, settling on actor Paddy Considine (Hot Fuzz) for King Viserys Targaryen. Since then, the network has added Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, and Emma D'Arcy to the cast. HBO scrapped another prequel series, to which Naomi Watts was attached, in 2020, as well.

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　　House of Dragons is set to broadcast in 2022, so it seems likely that this potential animated series will arrive in 2022 or later. And while we're waiting for House of Dragons, the Tales of Dunk and Egg, and this animated series, we can also continue to wait for Winds of Winter, which continues to not come out. Or we can look back at our review and recap of the series finale, "The Iron Throne," to remember where exactly the bar has been set for these new series.

　　Eric Frederiksen on Google+