‘More Trauma’: House of The Dragon’s Olivia Cooke Teases Season 3 (And How Long She’ll Stay On The Show)

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With House of the Dragon already finished filming its third season, viewers are anticipating even more conflict in the world of Westeros. Season three will continue the intense civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, and Olivia Cooke’s character, Alicent Hightower, will be deeply involved. Cooke recently shared some insights into the show’s future and suggested how long she intends to continue playing Alicent.

When asked about what’s coming up in the next season of Dragon, Cooke was very direct. She summed up the entire season with a single, stark sentence, telling The Times:

More trauma, more turmoil, more me looking panicked and sad.

Those who’ve followed the first two seasons on HBO Max will agree this isn’t an overstatement. Throughout the series, Alicent has struggled with being devoted to her children while also supporting the complex political system she helped create. If Season 2 signaled the start of the war, Season 3 appears poised to push Alicent into an even more emotionally vulnerable state.

As for how long she’ll stay on the show, Cooke kept things light but honest. She added:

If I survive number three, then I will be doing that.

It’s a playful response, but fitting for a show famous for unexpectedly killing off popular characters. Those familiar with George R.R. Martin’s books know the upcoming conflict will be incredibly violent. Cooke’s statement shows she’s aware things can change quickly, even though she plays a central role in a hugely successful TV series.

Season 3 is looking to be a major turning point for the show. While HBO hasn’t confirmed a release date, it’s currently expected to premiere next summer. Now that filming is finished and editing is in full swing, a premiere on television sometime in 2026 is highly likely, given HBO’s typical post-production timeline.

Season three will have eight episodes and, according to creator Ryan Condal, is where the conflict truly explodes into a full war. He’s promised two huge battle scenes—even bigger than the one at Rook’s Rest—and confirmed the highly anticipated naval battle, the Battle of the Gullet, will happen sooner than many viewers think.

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As a huge fan, I’m really excited about Season 3 because it’s not just going to be more of the same epic battles. It sounds like they’re really diving into the political side of things, and the returning cast is almost entirely back! Plus, we’re finally getting some new faces – James Norton as Ormund Hightower and Tommy Flanagan as Ser Roderick Dustin, both of whom I think will be fantastic additions. And honestly, I’ve been waiting for Daeron Targaryen to show up since we saw that dragon in Season 2! But the most intriguing thing is what Condal said about a really different episode – something that’s more focused on characters and less on big fights. It sounds like Season 3 is going to be bolder and more creatively ambitious than ever, which is exactly what I want to see.

Olivia Cooke, known for her role in Bates Motel, continues to bring a lot of passion to her character. Alicent has become a complex and fascinating figure in the show, and Cooke’s performance has consistently been praised for realistically portraying the character’s inner struggles without becoming overly dramatic. While more difficult experiences for Alicent in Season 3 aren’t ideal for her, they will likely give Cooke a chance to deliver an even more captivating performance.

As the third season approaches and the conflict between the Targaryens intensifies, viewers can anticipate larger-scale battles and emotionally difficult moments. It seems Alicent will be a key player in the upcoming events, according to hints from the showrunner. Hopefully, she’ll make it to the already confirmed fourth season.

The first two seasons of House of the Dragon are available to stream with an HBO Max subscription.

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2025-12-10 04:09