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WhileGame of Thronestook place in a world where dragons had died years ago with Daenerys Targaryen later bringing them back to life,House of the Dragonwas set years before Daenerys’ birth, making dragons a part of everyday life. Thus, with dragons being in the scene, it needed actors to ride them, which was apparently the worst part for the cast.
But hold on, while most actors absolutely hated riding a fake dragon during the shoots, Emma D’Arcy had no issues with those scenes. Although riding the mechanical dragon rig for mind-numbing hours madeGame of Thronesactors miserable, D’Arcy, who played Rhaenyra Targaryen in the HBO prequel, “loved” it.
Also read:“I had to pretend”: Emma D’Arcy Claimed Golden Globe Nomination for ‘House of the Dragon’ Was “Ironic” for a Reason
Riding the Mechanical Dragon Rig Made Actors Miserable
The uber-popular HBO showGame of Throneshas hooked fans to the screen for years, following its release in 2011. Throughout the eight-season run, the show featured several iconic moments and introduced viewers to the land of dragons, like they had never witnessed before. But while the scenes look magnificent to fans, it was incredibly difficult for the actors behind the scenes.
Adapted from George R. R. Martin’sSong of Ice and Fire, the series was initially shot in a world where dragons had died out years. However, later on in the show, they were revived by Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). This introduction of dragons apparently made it difficult for actors to shoot the scenes, for it required them to ride the mechanical dragon rig for mind-numbing hours.
SeveralGame of Thronesactors have expressed their frustration and misery related to riding a fake dragon. But, they weren’t the only ones who didn’t like those scenes. Apparently, even actors fromHouse of the Dragon,the HBO show’s prequel, disliked the shots where they had to ride a fake dragon. Well, most actors except Emma D’Arcy claimed to appreciate those scenes.
Also read:“Then I didn’t hear anything”: Emma D’Arcy Went Through Hell to Grab House of the Dragon Lead Role Only to be Ghosted Later
Emma D’Arcy Loved Riding a Fake Dragon While Shooting
Emma D’Arcy, who played the role of the older Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, claimed to love the scenes involving a fake dragon ride. During their interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, the actor recalled the times from set when they had to ride a fake dragon. Witnessing their character “fly” through the skies after editing, made them appreciate those scenes even more.
“From everything I’ve heard, it’s radically different from what people on Thrones had to put up with. I loved it. It’s like going to an Ikea and trying all the kitchen taps.”
Discussing how different it was for them to ride a mechanical dragon rig,Emma D’Arcyappreciated the presence of dragons in the show, from the very beginning, unlikeGame of Thrones. Even showrunner Ryan Condal stated that the presence of dragons from the beginning of the show made it easy for them to build an infrastructure best suited.
“The biggest difference about this series is the fact that dragons exist in this [era], whereas they were an extinct species that came back to life in the original show. So there’s an infrastructure built around them. There’s a dragon pit, saddles, and dragon keepers — this monk-like order that takes care of them.”
House of the Dragonhad a dramatic number of dragons throughout the show. According to reports, there were apparently 17 dragons who received considerable effort from the designing team to have a unique look and personality.
Read more:House of the Dragon Season 2 Might Not Reveal the Most Dangerous Dragon in Existence and That’s Not Vhagar
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3218
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
