Actor James Norton, who joined the cast of HBO's "House of the Dragon" as Lord Ormund Hightower for its third season, humorously recounted falling asleep on set during his first day of filming. Norton, 40, shared behind-the-scenes images on social media, including one of himself slumbering in full armor while co-star Matt Smith, 43, posed beside him.
"My first day on @houseofthedragonhbo, and I fell asleep in the middle of set. Needless to say, Matt took a photo," Norton captioned the post, referring to Smith's portrayal of Prince Daemon Targaryen. The images showed Smith grinning as crew members appeared amused in the background. Another picture depicted Norton with multiple hair clips in his hair, presumably for achieving the correct look for filming.
Fans reacted to the post in the comments section, with one user writing, "I’m extremely impressed that you managed to do it in that armour and in that position." Another commented, "I think I found out my two favs of the cast."
The third season of "House of the Dragon" was released last month. The series, a prequel to the critically acclaimed "Game of Thrones," first premiered in 2022. It is known for its intense themes, including graphic violence, moral complexity, and familial drama. One reviewer noted a particularly disturbing scene in the early episodes of the current season, which reportedly caused the audience to gasp.
Reviewer Sabrina Barr of Metro described the show as unafraid to push boundaries, referencing a graphic birth scene in season one and a controversial dream sequence in season two. She suggested that a recent scene was particularly "vomit-inducing."
Prior to the release of the latest season, some viewers had expressed disappointment with the conclusion of season two in August 2024. The season finale, titled "The Queen Who Ever Was," reportedly lacked the spectacle many fans had come to expect, despite moments like a strategic move by Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and the unclaimed Iron Throne. Some viewers took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction, with one user tweeting, "WHERE IS THE REST OF THE EPISODE????"
Season one concluded with the death of Rhaenyra Targaryen's son Lucerys Velaryon, setting the stage for future conflict. However, the perceived lack of extensive battle sequences in season two led to underwhelmed reactions and prompted some fans to declare they would boycott the new season.
Major cast members in "House of the Dragon" include Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, and Fabien Frankel.
