House of the Dragon season 2: When it's released and how to watch for free

With dragons, fire, and war, House of the Dragon has quickly become a smash hit with dedicated fans worldwide anticipating season two's release. The fantasy drama is a prequel to the highly popular cult classic Game of Thrones, following the history of the Targaryen dynasty that once reigned over the mythical realm of Westeros.

After a two-year hiatus, excited viewers can now mark their calendars as House of the Dragon is set to premiere on HBO on June 17 - here's everything we know about the new series including how you can catch up on the latest season in the UK for free.

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Many of the original cast members are set to return for season two, including Emma D'Arcy, Matt Smith, Matthew Needham, Eve Best, Rhys Ifans, and Phoebe Campbell, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.

However, some faces from season one will not be seen in the upcoming episodes. Milly Alcock, who portrayed the young Princess Rhaenyra revealed that her role in the series had concluded. However, it is unknown whether Paddy Considine is to return considering the fate of King Viserys I in the first season.

According to Business Insider, several new cast members were announced, Simon Russell Beale will portray Ser Simon Strong, Freddie Fox will take on the role of Ser Gwayne Hightower, Gayle Rankin will play Alys Rivers, and Abubakar Salim will be seen as Alyn of Hull.

The trailer also unveiled more actors joining the series this year. Clinton Liberty has been cast as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.

While season one of House of the Dragon had 10 episodes, season two will only have eight, Deadline reported in March 2023. The original season two plan included 10 episodes but an HBO spokesperson told the publication that the cut to eight episodes was for story-related reasons.

The first season of House of Dragons is currently available to stream for free with a Sky Stream free trial. Fans of the show or new viewers can try the Sky Stream for free for 31 days - but you need to act fast as this deal ends May 23.

The plan includes a new Sky Stream box, which allows members to stream live and on-demand content, including premium channels like Sky Atlantic, to their TV using Wi-Fi instead of a satellite dish or aerial. This usually costs £31 a month, but customers can sign up here to try it free for a month.

House Of Dragon series two will debut exclusively on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW from June 17. Episodes are set to be released weekly with UK viewers able to watch at the same time as the US at 2 am.

Netflix is also included in the deal, meaning you can stream shows like Bridgerton for free.