‘House of the Dragon’ World Premiere Answers the Question: ‘Where Does the Money Go?’

It’s almost “House of the Dragon” season again, which means it’s time for HBO to put everything it has into showing off the megahit series.

The Season 2 world premiere at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom was attended by cast and crew, celebrities, press — and, as Casey Bloys noted in his opening remarks before a screening of Episode 1, members of the executive board of Warner Bros. Discovery, including C.E.O. David Zaslav.

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“I’m guessing that they’ve had a couple conversations saying, ‘Where’s all that HBO money go?'” Bloys said. “And my hope is that you see it on screen tonight. The dragons are very cool, they’re very expensive, but I did ask the production team to give me an idea of what it takes to put on a season of ‘House of the Dragon’ or a show of this size.”

“These are real numbers, I’m not making this up,” he continued. “270 shooting days, 2500 crew members, 9000 extras, eight visual effects houses in seven countries, 2600 arrows, 2000 pairs of boots, 114 wigs, and 33 gallons of blood — to give you an idea what it takes.”

Showrunner Ryan Condal also made a few remarks, thanking the team he worked with because “making television is not something that anybody does alone, and beware of anybody that tells you that it is.” He thanked the cast members and directors by name, as well as composer Ramin Djawadi, who was in attendance and transformed television when he created the original “Game of Thrones” theme song over a decade ago.

The premiere event didn’t cut corners anywhere; from branded banners outside and on the green carpet, there was a pair of screens immediately inside that flashed between characters based on their allegiance to Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) or her stepmother Alicent (Olivia Cooke). Guests were given “House of the Dragon” branded plastic bags in which to enclose their phones during the episode. Before entering the screening room there was a chocolate sculpture which eventually lay in ruin as guests had the opportunity to smash it with a hammer. (This reporter would like to formally request this type of cathartic activity at every event henceforth.)

After the screening, the ground floor transformed, with a large red tree at the center, evoking the Godswood from “Thrones.” Along with themed cocktails and mocktails, even the food became part of the Dance of Dragons, with banners from NYC pizza haunts John’s of Bleecker Street and Roberta’s declaring their allegiance. It’s not a Westerosi party without a replica Iron Throne, which became a prime photo opportunity with a line snaking neatly around the Godswood while DJs played a nonstop list of hits (“The Light of the Seven” trap remix notably absent, but I left before the end).

Lastly, in the spirit of George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” there was a station engraving custom lighters for all who wished to take one. As they say, fire cannot kill a dragon.

“House of the Dragon” Season 2 premieres June 16 on HBO.

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