Dragon House Showrunner Quits Because HBO Won't Hire His Wife

New details have emerged about showrunner Miguel Sapochnik's exit from House of the Dragon, reportedly over a dispute with his wife.

House of the Dragon showrunner Miguel Sapochnik reportedly pulled out of the critically acclaimed series after HBO declined to hire his wife as producer. The series takes place nearly two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones and focuses on the battle for succession within House Targaryen. Season 1 of House of the Dragon wrapped up last October, and season 2 is currently in development. Before the show's newcomers aired or even ended, news broke that Sapochnik, who co-hosted the show with Ryan Condal, would be leaving House of the Dragon ahead of season 2.

As reported by Puck (via IndieWire), Sapochnik abruptly left House of the Dragon due to disputes with HBO executives over his wife Alexis Raben and her involvement as a showrunner conflicted. He wanted Raben to continue as a producer into season 2, but was turned down by the network due to Raben's inexperience. A mediator was even brought in to de-escalate the situation. Sapochnik later quit the series and fired his agent at WME, moving to CAA with his wife. Raben also appeared on screen in House of the Dragon Season 1 as Talya, Queen Allison's (Olivia Cooke) maid.

What's Next For House of the Dragon Season 2?

One wonders whether Sapochnik's brief involvement was a big reason why the first season of the Game of Thrones prequel series was so popular with critics and audiences, as he was involved in many of the original show's most memorable moments. Nonetheless, Game of Thrones alum Alan Taylor will now join the series as director and producer. While House of the Dragon won't return until 2024 at the earliest, many are already speculating on what the story will be for season 2. If the series stays true to author George R.R. Martin's original Fire and Blood novel, it seems likely that a famous character like Kerrigan Stark will be introduced as A Dance with Dragons progresses. .

However, one of the biggest unresolved plot points remains the relationship between Rhaenyla Targaryen (Emma Darcy) and her son Lutheris Velaryon (Eliott Griott). )'s reaction to the death of Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). House of the Dragon season 2 could kick off as soon as Rhaenyra learns of his death, with an immediate outpouring of reaction. After season 1's dramatic time jump, Condal confirms House of the Dragon will significantly slow down its timeline moving forward, so it seems likely that audiences will get to see how Rhaenyra deals with something recently lost. If there is a time jump, it's probably minimal.

Whatever happens to Season 2 of House of the Dragon, it's safe to assume it will go on without one of its original creators. It's unclear how Sapochnik's departure will affect the series, but with Martin's novel, there should be a clear creative path. Only time will tell when House of the Dragon season 2 premieres.

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