HBO Max today officially announced that House of the Dragon is headed for the San Diego Comic-Con. To celebrate the new HBO Original drama in the Game of Thrones franchise ahead of its August 21 premiere, HBO Max will transport guests to a Targaryen-ruled Westeros with the immersive experience of House of the Dragon: The Dragon’s Den.
Open from Thursday, July 21 through Sunday, July 24, House of the Dragon: The Dragon’s Den is an interactive experience created by agency Giant Spoon, where Comic-Con attendees will be guided through a ceremonial dragon hatching experience.
Walking in a Targaryen’s footsteps, each person will step from our world into the sights and sounds of King’s Landing, interacting with people of the city, selecting their own dragon egg, and bravely demonstrating they are worthy of a bond with a dragon.
From the caverns of Dragonstone to the magnificent Red Keep, guests will be ushered by a designated Dragonkeeper through seven dynamic phases, encountering special interactions and sound sensory elements Powered by Bose on their journey.
House of the Dragon: The Dragon’s Den culminates in the Throne Room, where, for the first time, fans will be able to see and sit on the new, mighty Targaryen-era Iron Throne for a photo moment, acknowledging the reign of Fire and Blood in this infamous era of Westeros.
Having proven themselves true Targaryens, each person will hatch their personalized, virtual dragon egg in a new augmented reality app, House of the Dragon: DracARys, before exiting, enabling them to “raise” their dragon at home.
Powered by Niantic Lightship and produced by The Mill, House of the Dragon: DracARys will be available for download in the Apple and Google Play app stores starting July 20.
Participants of House of the Dragon: The Dragon’s Den will receive exclusive access to the app’s dragon-hatching features before the app begins its global rollout and unlocks full functionality on July 25.
As previously announced, HBO Max will also host a panel in Hall H to introduce the cast of House of the Dragon. Panelists will include co-creator/executive producer George R.R. Martin, co-creator/co-showrunner/executive producer/writer Ryan Condal, and co-showrunner/executive producer/director Miguel Sapochnik.
Cast members attending include Paddy Considine (King Viserys Targaryen), Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Emma D’Arcy (Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen), Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys Velaryon), and Eve Best (Princess Rhaenys Targaryen).
Also coming are Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), Graham McTavish (Ser Harrold Westerling), Milly Alcock (Young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen), and Emily Carey (Young Alicent Hightower). The panel will be moderated by podcast host Jason Concepcion (X-Ray Vision, Binge Mode).
“We are excited to reignite the ‘Game of Thrones’ fandom and franchise by bringing Westeros back to Comic-Con after a three-year hiatus,” said Pia Barlow, Executive Vice President of Originals Marketing at HBO Max.
Barlow added: “We’re creating an immersive experience that will allow old and new fans alike to engage in a unique journey, bringing them closer to the Westeros featured in the new series ‘House of the Dragon.’”
House of the Dragon: The Dragon’s Den will be open to all San Diego Comic-Con badge holders. San Diego Comic-Con attendees will also have the opportunity to receive two fast-pass tickets each for the experience at designated “HBO Max Drop Zones,” which will serve as beacons for HBO Max activity across Comic-Con.
Each visit to a Drop Zone will present attendees with unique giveaways: custom content, swag, VIP seats to screenings, and more. The House of the Dragon: The Dragon’s Den activation will be located at the MLK JR Promenade: 326 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101.
THE DRAGON’S DEN ACTIVATION HOURS
Wednesday, July 20: (Press Preview): 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 21: 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 22: 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 23: 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 24: 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.