Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2’s finale.
Summary
Daenerys Targaryen returned to TV screens in theHouse of the Dragonseason 2 finale, but it wasn’t Emilia Clarke playing the Mother of Dragons. At Harrenhal,Daemon Targaryen had visions of Daenerys, a White Walker, the Three-Eyed Raven, and more, all of which served to convince him to bend the knee to Rhaenyra Targaryen. It was important for the prequel’s story, but also worked to provide a clear connection to the larger franchise, setting up events that are over 150 years later in the timeline.
Daenerys, in particular, was a major surprise, marking her first on-screen appearance sinceGame of Thrones' endingin 2019, in which the character was killed by Jon Snow.The vision is of Dany during theGame of Thronesseason 1 finale, shortly after she emerged from Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre with three baby dragons. Back then, of course, it was Clarke in the role, butHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s endingbrought in Imogen Ruby Little for the part.
Imogen Ruby Little Played Daenerys In House Of The Dragon’s Season 2 Finale
Little Made A Cameo As The Mother Of Dragons
Imogen Ruby Little played Daenerys inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 8, as they confirmed on their Instagram accountimogenrubyy. Little is not a household name, but has some previous acting credits. As per their page onSpotlight, credits includeThe Witcherseason 3, as a Mage;Barbie, as Beach Barbie; andIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyas a student. In their post caption, Little said:
“Watch your mouth, you’re speaking to the Mother Of Dragons now. My pleasure to join the cast of HOTD, step into an iconic role and an honour to bring such an influential character to life, even for a minute in time, I had a blast. Absolutely over the moon to have been given this opportunity!”
Little’s face is not shown on screen, but their post does show their full appearance as Daenerys. It gives a much better look at the hair and makeup work that went into recreating Dany’s season 1 appearance, showing the effort that goes into just a few seconds of screen time.
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Why Didn’t Emilia Clarke Return As Daenerys For House Of The Dragon?
It’s Unclear If Clarke Was Approached About Coming Back
With Little taking on the role of Daenerys, it raises the question of whether Emilia Clarke was approached about returning as the Mother of Dragons for House of the Dragon.EWasked the episode’s director, Geeta Vasant Patel, if the moment was CGI, used a stand-in, or if Clarke was asked to return, to which she responded:“I don’t know about some of those things, because they were above my pay grade.”
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We obviously now know that Little was the actor, but presumably, Patel isn’t aware of whether Clarke was asked to come back or not as part ofHouse of the Dragon’s cast. Given the brevity of the scene, and thatit doesn’t really necessitate seeing Dany’s face, it may well have been easier (and more cost-effective) to have someone else take on the role.
Game of Thrones (unaired pilot)
Imogen Ruby Little
House of the Dragon
There’d also be no guarantees Clarke would want to reprise the parthaving moved on from it in the past five years. When asked by theBBCabout a potential return for the Jon Snow spinoff (which is no longer moving forward), she has:“No, I think I’m done.“Meanwhile, in 2023, she toldVarietythat she couldn’t watch House of the Dragon, saying:
“It’s too weird. I’m so happy it’s happening. I’m over the moon about all the awards… I just can’t do it. It’s so weird. It’s so strange. It’s kind of like someone saying, ‘You want to go to this school reunion that’s not your year? Want to go to that school reunion?’ That’s how it feels. I’m avoiding it.”
That’s an understandable viewpoint and, no matter what, Clarke’s legacy as Daenerys Targaryen is secured. They were a crucial part ofGame of Thrones' success, and now that lives on inHouse of the Dragon, even if she herself didn’t return.
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
