Summary
House of the DragonSeason 3 is already in production. Its showrunner just gave a significant update about the anticipated season.
House of the Dragonis a fantasy drama TV series byGeorge R.R. Martinand Ryan Condal for HBO. It’s a prequel to the hitGame of Thronesand the second TV series from Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire.” The first season premiered on July 06, 2025, and was generally well-received. The second season, which dropped in the summer of 2024, received mixed reviews.House of the DragonSeason 3 is already in production, and they have just added two more characters. One of them is a fan-favorite and Condal is thrilled about it.
Condal, the showrunner ofHouse of the Dragon, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about Season 3. According to him, two new faces joined the third season.Fantastic Beaststar Dan Fogler is one of the new faces, portraying Ser Torrhen Manderly, a knight from House Manderly. Tommy Flanagan also joins as the fan-favorite Ser Roderick Dustin, the head of the House Dustin and leader of Winter Wolves. In the book “Fire & Blood,” Martin describes Ser Roderick as “so old, and hoary men called him Roddy the Ruin.” Condal didn’t give details about the fan-favorite character and his Winter Wolves, whom Martin wrote in the book were all “grizzled graybeards in old mail and ragged skins.” He said:
I don’t want to say much because I think this is one of those truly memorableGame of Thronescharacters, and I’m very excited to bring him into the fold. But he is a fixture inFire & Blood, and I think he’s one of those true fan favorites. I’m very, very proud of the role that we’ve written.
Condal also shared that he was delighted to work with Flanagan and excited to see what theSleeping Dogsstar would do with the character. Since he didn’t want to share the details about Roddy the Ruin and his Winter Wolves inHouse of the DragonSeason 3, the showrunner, instead, talked about having fun writing for them. “I would like to say we’ve brought some northern spirit into our southern base tale here,” Flanagan said. Roddy the Ruin has gained a cult following among Martin’s fans because of his bravery and martial prowess. He led a formidable group of Northmen called the Winter Wolves to support Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s claim to the Iron Throne. He is known for key battles, including the Battle by the Lakeshore and the First Battle of Tumbleton. During the Battle by the Lakeshore, Roddy secured a victory for Rhaenyra against the Lannisters despite significant casualties. In the First Battle of Tumbleton, he killed both Lord Ormund Hightower and his cousin Ser Bryndon Hightower. However, he also died due to the wounds he sustained from the encounter.
Roddy the Ruin and the Winter Wolves' presence is significant in the series. The North played an important role in theDance of the Dragons, which was noticeably absent in Season 1. Their presence highlights the North’s contribution to the war and reinforces theGame of Thrones’legacy.Ned Stark (Sean Bean)and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) are among the fierce Northern warriors GoT fans saw on TV. However, he is a war-hardened and reckless warrior, offering a new perspective on the Northern troopers. Roddy is aggressive, chaotic and battle-hunger. However, Roddy is a beloved figure due to his leadership and brutal combat skills. His encounter with the Hightowers before dying is among the most intense moments in “Fire & Blood.” He has a Viking-like energy that will surely appeal to those who love epic battle sequences. So, this will surely be among the scenes to watch out for.
House of the DragonSeason 3 is expected to premiere on HBO and Max in 2026.
