Paddy Considine to join ‘House of the Dragon’: ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel casts its leading man

The British ‘Peaky Blinders’ actor will play King Viserys Targaryen in the story set 300 years before ‘Game of Thrones’

British actor Paddy Considine has won one of Hollywood's most coveted roles in the 'Game of Thrones' prequel, 'House of the Dragon'. AFP

House of the Dragon finally has its king.

British actor Paddy Considine will star as King Viserys Targaryen, an ancestor of the smash HBO hit Game of Thrones' Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons.

In the new 10-part TV show, which is based on Game of Thrones author George R R Martin's Fire & Blood and set 300 years before GoT, it charts the reign of the Targaryen family in the Seven Kingdoms. King Viserys is chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council at Harrenhal.

Written by Martin as a kind and decent man, King Viserys wishes to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy, but treachery awaits in every dark corner of Westeros.

And there’s no doubt the Staffordshire-born actor has landed one of Hollywood’s most sought-after roles.

Considine, 47, is best known for his performances as Father John Hughes in Peaky Blinders, Steven Prince in the Simon Pegg comedy The World's End, and as journalist Simon Ross, who tries to get the truth about Operation Treadstone from Matt Damon's Jason Bourne, in The Bourne Ultimatum.

‘Vikings’ star Fimmel rumoured to be in contention

With the leading man now locked in, attention has turned to the other main roles from Martin's books. Leading the pack is Vikings star Travis Fimmel, 41, who plays Norseman Ragnar Lothbrok in the long-running Netflix series.

Rumoured to be in the running to portray Prince Daemon Targaryen, the Australian former model would seem to fit the bill perfectly as the character is a skilled warrior and swordsman.

Veteran GoT director Miguel Sapochnik, who helmed fan-favourite episodes The Battle of the Bastards and The Winds of Winter, will return as co-showrunner alongside Ryan Condal. Condal is penning the script with TV writer Sara Lee Hess, who has written for House, Deadwood and Orange is the New Black.

Although a release date hasn’t yet been confirmed, the series is said to be scheduled to air in 2022.

Main characters still to cast

As befits the cutthroat world Martin has created in his A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the new characters in House of the Dragon are set to be as complex and ambitious as any Lannister could hope to be.

Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen: A skilled dragon rider, she is King Viserys's chosen heir to the throne, and has been raised to believe she will become the first ruling Queen of Westeros.

Queen Alicent Hightower: Viserys's ambitious second wife and stepmother to Rhaenyra, she has three children with the king and would like to see one of them on the throne.

Aegon II Targaryen: Princess Rhaenyra's younger half-brother. He challenges Rhaenyra's claim to the throne which starts a civil war in the Seven Kingdoms.

Prince Daemon Targaryen: A skilled warrior and swordsman, he is the brother of King Viserys. He is both the uncle of and husband to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and supports her claim to the throne.

So, get set for 2022. It looks like winter is coming once more.