Matt Smith as House of the Dragon premiere
Matt Smith led the stars at the premiere for the highly anticipated Game Of Thrones spin-off (Pictures: Rex / Reuters / epa / AP / AFP)

Game Of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon is very nearly here, with stars Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy and Paddy Considine leading the cast at the premiere.

The highly-anticipated series is set 200 years before the events of the main show and will follow House Targaryen at the height of its power across the Seven Kingdoms, when King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) sat on the Iron Throne.

Doctor Who star Matt, who’s starring as Daemon Targaryen, looked slick in a black suit, accessorising with a silver chain.

Emma, who’s playing Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, looked sensational in a white and gold number, rocking cropped hair and blue gloves, while Paddy (who recently revealed he turned down a role in Game Of Thrones) smiled as he took to the red carpet in a suave suit.

Also rocking the red carpet were stars including Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys Velaryon), Milly Alcock (Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen), Emily Carey and Olivia Cooke (both playing Alicent Hightower), and Eve Best (Princess Rhaenys Velaryon).

Matt Smith
Matt Smith looked suave (Picture: Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
pose for photographers upon arrival for the premiere of the TV Series 'House of the Dragon' in London, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)Matt Smith poses for photographers upon arrival for the premiere of the TV Series 'House of the Dragon' in London, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
He’s starring as Daemon Targaryen (Picture: Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Emma D’Arcy looked sensational (Picture: HOLLIE ADAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
Paddy Considine attends the House of Dragon premiere at Leicester Square Gardens in London. Picture date: Monday August 15, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Dragon. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
Paddy Considine is starring asKing Viserys I(Picture: PA)
Rhys Ifans plays Otto Hightower (Picture: Dave Benett/WireImage)
epa10122832 British actor Steve Toussaint poses at the UK premiere of the TV series 'House of the Dragon' at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square and Cineworld in London, Britain, 15 August 2022. Based on George R.R. Martin????????s 'Fire and Blood' and set 200 years before the events of 'Game of Thrones', the series tells the story of House Targaryen. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Steve Toussaint rocked a red look (Picture: EPA)
Also bringing the fire was Olivia Cooke (Picture: HOLLIE ADAMS / AFP)
From left, Eve Best, Emily Carey, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy and Milly Alcock pose for photographers upon arrival for the premiere of the TV Series 'House of the Dragon' in London, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. (Photo by Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
(L to R) Eve Best, Emily Carey, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy and Milly Alcock (Picture: Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Ahead of the show premiering, author George RR Martin has hailed it as ‘magnificent’.

The legendary author, who penned the A Song Of Ice and Fire fantasy novels, said on his blog: ‘Hot D is all I hoped it would be; dark, powerful, visceral, disturbing, stunning to look at, peopled with complex and very human characters brought to life by some truly amazing actors.’

We can’t wait!

So far, the series has received rave reviews from those who have seen previews.

Critics in the US recently had the chance to attend a screening of the pilot, and their reactions have made us even more excited to watch the show than we were before… if that was even possible.

Up Next

Video: House of the Dragon - Comic-Con Extended Trailer

It's coming next month on Sky in the UK.

A film journalist working for IndieWire didn’t hold back when showing the new fantasy tale with praise, sharing their awe on Twitter over how ‘violent’, ‘shocking’ and ‘epic’ it was.

‘Better than GoT & Breaking Bad. HBO does it again. This isn’t just another fantasy show, it’s the BEST series ever made! Great action & music too. A fitting end setting up what’s next,’ they wrote.

The reign of House Targaryen begins.
The series follows House Targaryen (Picture: 2022 Home Box Office, Inc. Al)
George RR Martin
The highly-anticipated show is based on the novels by George RR Martin (Picture: Angela Weiss / AFP)

They added that the pilot was, in their opinion, ‘the single best episode of television ever’, continuing to say: ‘The rest will be just as good.’

Brandon Katz, senior TV reporter at The Wrap, said that the pilot ‘very efficiently explains its context in relation to GoT, introduces its core characters, and lays out the central conflict of the series’.

He said that the first episode was ‘easy to follow’ commending its ‘vibrant colors and detailed texture’ while dubbing it ‘absolutely a worthy successor so far’.

In a second tweet, the journalist admitted that Matt’s character Daemon was his ‘favourite’ from the cast in the pilot, explaining that he’s ‘violent, yet oddly caring’.

‘Arrogant and ambitious, yet honest and sincere. He’s a F**kboi with moments of substance. Matt Smith really delivers on the script’s early character nuance,’ he summarised.

Ahead of the House of the Dragon premiere, Matt teased what viewers can expect from his character Daemon, explaining that the brother of the king likes to ‘p*** people off’.

Speaking to Empire, the former Doctor Who star said: ‘Daemon is there to cause chaos and p*** people off because, simply, it entertains him.’

House Of The Dragon premieres on August 22 on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : House Of The Dragon star Eve Best reveals the absolutely wild ‘top secret’ audition process

MORE : How to watch House Of The Dragon in the UK?