House of The Dragon co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik leaves the series after Season 1

Game of Thrones prequel House of The Dragon has been a tremendous success so far thanks to the collective efforts of its amazing team. However, in a shocking turn of events, the most anticipated show of 2022 just lost one of its foundational pillars, right after the show was renewed for a second season. House of The Dragon co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik will be leaving the team, while another Game of Thrones vet Alan Taylor will be the newest addition to the crew.

According to an insider report by The Hollywood Reporter, Ryan Condal will be serving as the sole showrunner, with Taylor as an executive producer after Sapochnik’s exit. In his statement, Sapochnik wrote:

“Working within the Thrones universe for the past few years has been an honor and a privilege, especially spending the last two with the amazing cast and crew of House of the Dragon. I am so proud of what we accomplished with season one and overjoyed by the enthusiastic reaction of our viewers. It was incredibly tough to decide to move on, but I know that it is the right choice for me, personally and professionally.”

“As I do so, though, I am deeply comforted to know that Alan will be joining the series. He’s someone I’ve known and respected for a long time, and I believe this precious series could not be in safer hands. I am so glad to remain a part of the HBO and House of the Dragon family and, of course, I wish Ryan and his team success and all the best with season two and beyond.”

Reportedly, Miguel was initially reluctant to come back to the Thrones universe. He added, “I went through a lot of vacillating. Ryan and I had a long-standing relationship and we work well together and we really like each other — that was half the battle. As we got deeper into the discussions, I realized I had to shit or get off the pot.”

HBO’s response

As soon as the news got out, HBO released an official statement, “Miguel Sapochnik has done amazing work on the first season of House of the Dragon, establishing its signature look and feel. This series simply could not have come together the way it did without him. While we would have loved to have Miguel continue in the same role, we are thrilled to have his ongoing collaboration in this new creative capacity. Looking forward, we’ve had a decades-long relationship with Alan Taylor, and we are delighted to have him join Ryan and the rest of the talented team.”

Alan Taylor also expressed his excitement about joining the team, “It’s a pleasure and an honor to be back at HBO, immersing myself in the world of the Targaryens. I look forward to working closely with Ryan as House of the Dragon grows into its second season. Ryan, Miguel and George have launched an extraordinary story, in a rich and fascinating world. Returning to Westeros will be a huge undertaking and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

In what way do you think this news will affect House of The Dragon? Tell us in the comments below!

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