- Special counsel asks judge to dismiss subversion case against Trump
- Ronaldo double takes Al Nassr to brink of Asian Champions League quarters
- Brazil minister says supports meat supplier 'boycott' of Carrefour
- Egypt says over a dozen missing after Red Sea tourist boat capsizes
- Steelmaker ArcelorMittal to close two plants in France: unions
- Macy's says employee hid up to $154 mn in costs over 3 years
- Germany fears outside hand in deadly Lithuania jet crash
- EU grocery shoppers 'fooled' by 'maze' of food labels: audit
- Awaiting Commerzbank, Italy's UniCredit bids for Italian rival
- Alonso jokes about playing return amid Leverkusen injury woes
- Stocks push higher on Trump's 'steady hand' for Treasury
- G7 ministers discuss ceasefire efforts in Mideast
- Bayern need to win all remaining Champions League games, says Kane
- Indian cricketer, 13, youngest to be sold in IPL history
- Romania braces for parliament vote after far right's poll upset
- France unveils new measures to combat violence against women
- Beating Man City eases pressure for Arsenal game: new Sporting coach
- Argentine court hears bid to end rape case against French rugby players
- Egypt says 17 missing after Red Sea tourist boat capsizes
- Stocks push higher on hopes for Trump's Treasury pick
- Dortmund boss calls for member vote on club's arms sponsorship deal
- Chanel family matriarch dies aged 99: company
- US boss Hayes says Chelsea stress made her 'unwell'
- Deadly cargo jet crash in Lithuania amid sabotage probes
- China's Ding beats 'nervous' Gukesh in world chess opener
- Man City can still do 'very good things' despite slump, says Guardiola
- 'After Mazan': France unveils new measures to combat violence against women
- Scholz named party's top candidate for German elections
- Flick says Barca must eliminate mistakes after stumble
- British business group hits out at Labour's tax hikes
- German Social Democrats name Scholz as top candidate for snap polls
- Fresh strikes, clashes in Lebanon after ceasefire calls
- Russia and Ukraine trade aerial attacks amid escalation fears
- Georgia parliament convenes amid legitimacy crisis
- Plastic pollution talks must not fail: UN environment chief
- Maximum term sought in French mass rape trial for husband who drugged wife
- Beeches thrive in France's Verdun in flight from climate change
- Deep divisions on display at plastic pollution treaty talks
- UAE names Uzbek suspects in Israeli rabbi's murder
- Indian author Ghosh wins top Dutch prize
- Real Madrid star Vinicius out of Liverpool clash with hamstring injury
- For Ceyda: A Turkish mum's fight for justice for murdered daughter
- Bestselling 'Woman of Substance' author Barbara Taylor Bradford dies aged 91
- Equity markets mostly on front foot, as bitcoin rally stutters
- Ukraine drones hit Russian oil energy facility: Kyiv source
- UN chief slams landmine threat after US decision to supply Ukraine
- Maximum term demanded in French rape trial for husband who drugged wife
- Salah feels 'more out than in' with no new Liverpool deal on table
- Pro-Russia candidate leads Romanian polls, PM out of the race
- Taiwan fighter jets to escort winning baseball team home
RBGPF | -1.6% | 59.24 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.35% | 24.76 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.29% | 6.82 | $ | |
RELX | -0.25% | 46.635 | $ | |
NGG | 0.27% | 63.28 | $ | |
VOD | 2.24% | 8.93 | $ | |
AZN | 1.19% | 66.42 | $ | |
GSK | 0.83% | 34.245 | $ | |
RIO | 1.26% | 63.145 | $ | |
BP | -1.17% | 29.375 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.41% | 24.56 | $ | |
JRI | 1.34% | 13.39 | $ | |
SCS | 4.29% | 13.865 | $ | |
BTI | 0.28% | 37.485 | $ | |
BCC | 7.39% | 155.26 | $ | |
BCE | 0.91% | 27.015 | $ |
'Thrones' prequel 'House of the Dragon' holds world premiere
"House of the Dragon" creators and stars were eager to leave behind the difficult final season of "Game of Thrones" as they launched its prequel at a glittering world premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The original "Thrones," with its unique blend of fantasy, violence, medieval politics and dragons, became a global phenomenon that hooked audiences and swept television awards, but its finale was panned by fans and critics.
"It's a real shame that they were so disappointed -- but it has been four years, and this is a different story," said Miguel Sapochnik, the director of several much-loved "Thrones" episodes, who returned for the prequel.
"So now they get the chance to have a different experience. I hope they will," he told AFP on the premiere's red carpet.
Reviews and plot details of the first episode of "House of the Dragon," out August 21, are under embargo, but its screening drew a glowing reception at the recently opened Academy Museum in Los Angeles.
Set years earlier in the same universe of George R.R. Martin's fantasy books, "House of the Dragon" depicts the glory days of the ancestors of popular "Thrones" characters, such as Daenerys Targaryen.
"Whereas the original 'Game of Thrones' was about multiple different families that are spread over multiple continents, ours is a much more intimate story," said Sapochnik.
"It's really about the dissolution of one family. So in a way, it wasn't hard for it to be different."
Ryan Condal, who serves as the new series' showrunner along with Sapochnik, told AFP that it had been "very difficult" to end the original "Thrones" but that its prequel is "a totally new deal, it's 170 years in the past."
"I think there was a grieving process for the fans," he said. "They had spent 10 years with these characters, they'd grown up with them."
Condal said he believed there was still "a really strong underlying fan base" for the new series.
In "House of the Dragon," Paddy Considine plays the kindly King Viserys, while Matt Smith is cast as his ambitious brother Prince Daemon.
Milly Alcock and Emma D'Arcy play younger and older versions of the king's only child Princess Rhaenyra, with the show's timeline spanning at least a decade.
Olivia Cooke, who plays a key role as Rhaenyra's best friend Alicent Hightower, said it was "scary" to dwell on how the original series' ending had been received, or could impact its successor.
"It's hard to please everyone," she said.
"I haven't really thought about that at all... I'm super proud of this."
W.Lapointe--BTB