George R. R. Martin fans rejoice – there is a new medium to fill the Westeros-shaped hole in your life. Enter Game of Thrones: Aegon’s Conquest, the franchise’s first movie.
In April, Warner Bros. formally announced that a Game of Thrones movie was in the works and in September, we finally got a release date: 6 June 2029. Here’s everything you need to know.
Who Will Direct and Write the Movie?
Owen Harris, who directed several episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – including the fiercely acclaimed fifth episode “In the Name of the Mother” – as well as episodes of Black Mirror, like “San Junipero” – which frequently tops best-episode lists, will direct. Beau Willimon, who wrote Disney+’s acclaimed Star Wars spin-off, Andor, and penned the screenplay for Mary Queen of Scots and House of Cards, is writing the screenplay. So, it’s safe to say the movie is in good hands.
What Will Aegon’s Conquest Be About?
Plot-wise, details are sparse. However, we can probably expect the story to draw on Martin’s Fire & Blood, which covers the Targaryen dynasty’s reign and details aspects of Aegon’s conquest. Essentially, Aegon, together with Visenya and Rhaenys, his wives (who are also naturally his sisters) and their respective dragons, take over six of the seven Kingdoms of Westeros, leaving only Dorne outside of his rule. The conquest takes place before the events of all three Game of Thrones shows, making it the earliest part of Westeros lore to be explored on screen.
Who Should Play Aegon Targaryen?
The internet is rife with debate over who should get to play the movie’s lead – including plenty of conversation about whether it should be a household name at all. But several names have been floated by fans to play the tall, broad-shouldered and classically peroxide-blonde Targaryen, including:
- Harry Goodwins: Of The Gentlemen fame, Goodwins is one of the younger fancast choices and closer to Aegon’s presumed age of 27. He certainly has the Targaryen aesthetic down.
- Robert Pattinson: The actor, who seems to have been in just about every other movie lately, has, of course, been suggested. He has the range to bring something unexpected to the role; the only question? Whether he might be a little too old for the part.
- Henry Cavill: A popular pick thanks to his previous blonde-haired fantasy role in The Witcher. Though, as another actor in his 40s, not the best fit age-wise.
- Alexander Skarsgård: With his towering frame and Viking vibes, Skarsgård would be a compelling fit. Add a platinum-blonde wig, and we can practically see the Targaryen resemblance already. But alas, likely not young enough.
All we know for sure is that 2029 is a long way off. In the meantime, we have season two of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (estimated in 2027) and season four of House of the Dragon (estimated at the following year). The penultimate book in Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series may also come out between now and then – although he’s been working on it for fifteen years, so don’t hold your breath.
