A trailer has been released for HBO's Game of Thrones spin-off series House of the Dragon ahead of its premiere in August.
The video teases a lot of what made the fantasy series such a hit: an epic power struggle between the various Houses of Westeros, vicious violence, fire-breathing dragons and, of course, a royal family that relies on incest to keep its bloodline "pure".
As it is based on the Targaryen ancestors of 'Khaleesi' Daenerys, played by Emelia Clarke in Game of Thrones, the trailer boasts plenty of striking, white-blonde wigs.
The clip ends with Prince Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith, coming face-to-face with a fearsome dragon blowing huge flames that fade into the show's fiery logo.
"History does not remember blood, it remembers names" is dramatically narrated over the final images by Lord Corlys Velaryon the 'Sea Snake', played by Steve Toussaint.
House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, which centres on House Targaryen and is set 300 years before the events depicted in the Song of Ice and Fire novel series, which was adapted into the original HBO show.
The new series will tell a story of "a turbulent period for House Targaryen, one that set sibling against sibling and dragon against dragon", said HBO, with "the point of contention being who should rule on the Iron Throne, of course".
In a blog post, Martin says fans wanting to know more about what the show is about shouldn't just read Fire & Blood, but also read anthologies Dangerous Women and Rogues.
In addition to Smith and Toussaint, House Of The Dragon also stars Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno and Rhys Ifans.
House of the Dragon will premiere in New Zealand via streaming service Neon on August 22.
