House of the Dragon‘s second season will go down as one of the most controversial in HBO history, but the prequel isn’t worried about the past. It’s moving forward with its next season.

Even though the second season hasn't matched the record-breaking numbers of the first season, which premiered with 9.986 million viewers in the summer of 2022, the continuous rise in viewership is a positive sign,

Variety has learned exclusively that James Norton will join the HBO show’s upcoming third season as Ormund.

The third season of HBO 's popular series House of the Dragon has made a major casting decision. Actor James Norton, known for his work in Happy Valley and Restless, will play Ormund Hightower, Variety reported. The character was referenced in the second season but never appeared on screen.

House of the Dragon ended Season 2 back in August with its strongest Game of Thrones connection to date, but the third season of the clash between the Greens and the Blacks isn't expected until well after the end of the 2025 TV schedule and into 2026.

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House of the Dragon has added Happy Valley star James Norton to its season 3 cast. The Game of Thrones prequel series was renewed for a third instalment last summer, before season two had even been released.

James Norton has been tapped to portray Ormund Hightower in Season 3 of HBO's House of the Dragon, Deadline has learned.