Francis Ford Coppola’s self-financed epic Megalopolis will premiere in theaters and IMAX on September 27, 2024. Lionsgate Studios picked up the film for domestic distribution following its Cannes premiere where it split critics yet earned a seven-minute standing ovation.
“Francis is a legend. For many of us, his gifts to cinema were one of the inspirations to devote our own careers to film,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “It is a true privilege to work with him and to bring this incredible, audacious, and utterly unique movie to theatrical audiences. At Lionsgate, we strive to be a home for bold and daring artists, and Megalopolis proves there is no one more bold or daring than the maestro, Francis Ford Coppola.”
“One rule of business I’ve always followed and prioritized (to my benefit) is to continue working with companies and teams who over time have proven to be good friends as well as great collaborators,” said Coppola. “This is why I am thrilled to have Adam Fogelson and Lionsgate Studios release Megalopolis. I am confident they will apply the same tender love and care given to Apocalypse Now, which is currently in its 45th year of astounding revenue and appreciation.”
Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel in ‘Megalopolis’ (Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate)
The cast includes Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, and Laurence Fishburne. Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D.B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman also star.
“Megalopolis is a Roman Epic fable set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare,” reads Lionsgate’s synopsis. “Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero, the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.”
Francis Ford Coppola wrote, produced, and directed the film, with Fred Roos, Barry Hirsch, and Michael Bederman also producing. Anahid Nazarian, Barrie Osborne, and Darren Demetre serve as executive producers.
A pop star (played by Naomi Scott) is on the receiving end of incredibly creepy killer smiles in Paramount Pictures’ Smile 2 teaser trailer. Smile debuted in theaters on September 22, 2022, and Smile 2 will arrive just before Halloween on October 18, 2024.
The original film starred Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert, Caitlin Stasey, Kal Penn, and Rob Morgan. The sequel’s cast is led by Naomi Scott and includes Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, and Miles Gutierrez-Riley. Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, and Ray Nicholson also star.
“About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events,” reads Paramount’s synopsis. “Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.”
Smile‘s writer/director, Parker Finn, returns for the sequel. The original film’s producers – Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner, and Robert Salerno – also return.
Poster for ‘Smile 2’ (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)
AMC’s Interview with the Vampire season two episode six found Molloy discovering more about the workings of the Talamasca and Claudia and Madeleine making an eternal connection. And then, everything blew up when Louis, Claudia, and Madeleine were forced to stand trial. Episode seven, “I Could Not Prevent It,” will focus on the trial when it airs on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT.
The season two cast is led by Jacob Anderson as Louis de Pointe du Lac, Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy, and Assad Zaman as Armand. Sam Reid stars as Lestat de Lioncourt, Ben Daniels is Santiago, and Delainey Hayles takes over the role of Claudia.
Assad Zaman as Armand in ‘Interview with the Vampire’ season 2 episode 6 (Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)
Interview with the Vampire Season 2 Plot, Courtesy of AMC:
The interview continues in season two. In the year 2022, the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (Anderson) recounts his life story to journalist Daniel Molloy (Bogosian). Picking up from the bloody events in New Orleans in 1940 when Louis and teen fledgling Claudia (Hayles) conspired to kill the Vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Reid), Louis tells of his adventures in Europe, a quest to discover Old World Vampires and the Theatre Des Vampires in Paris, with Claudia.
It is in Paris that Louis first meets the Vampire Armand (Zaman). Their courtship and love affair will prove to have devastating consequences both in the past and in the future, and Molloy will probe to get to the truths buried within the memories.
Jacob Anderson as Louis De Point Du Lac, Assad Zaman as Armand, and Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy in ‘Interview with the Vampire’ season 2 episode 7 (Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)Ben Daniels as Santiago in season 2 episode 7 (Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)Assad Zaman as Armand and Chris Geary as Sam in season 2 episode 7 (Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)Ben Daniels as Santiago and Jake Cecil as Gustave in season 2 episode 7 (Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)Assad Zaman as Armand in ‘Interview with the Vampire’ season 2 episode 7 (Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy in season 2 episode 7 (Photo Credit: Larry Horricks/AMC)
Mia Goth in ‘MaXXXine’ (Photo Credit: Justin Lubin / A24)
Next month, July 5th to be exact, writer/director Ti West and writer/actress Mia Goth will unleash the final installment of their X trilogy, MaXXXine. So, let’s have a quick refresher of X and Pearl to get you ready.
Needless to say (but we’ll say it anyway), spoilers for X and Pearl will be all over the place here.
Shot in New Zealand in 2021, both films are products of COVID-era filmmaking. During production on X, the cast and crew found themselves quarantined in New Zealand. So, West and Goth made use of the time by writing the prequel Pearl to further explore the character. A24 greenlit the new project, and the movies were shot back-to-back, with both being released in 2022.
Mia Goth in ‘X’ (Photo Credit: A24)
Set in 1979, X is about a group of burgeoning adult filmmakers who rent a farm in Texas to shoot their debut pornographic masterpiece. Maxine Minx, played by Goth, is one of the would-be stars who will do anything to get famous. Once the owners of the farm, an elderly couple named Howard and Pearl, find out what the group is up to, they have mixed reactions; Howard is angry, while Pearl is intrigued. The unstable couple starts killing off the porn troupe, leaving Maxine as the lone Final Girl. As she escapes into the night, it is also revealed that Maxine is the runaway daughter of a televangelist who is constantly preaching in the background of most of the movie via TVs and radios.
Pearl jumps back to 1918 (during the Spanish Flu outbreak, conveniently echoing the modern pandemic lifestyle) and shows the younger years of Pearl (also played by Goth). While her husband, still Howard here, is off in Europe fighting WWI, Pearl is oppressed by her stern mother and invalid father, her only escape being the few moments during the week in which she can sneak away and go to “the pictures” in town where she dreams of being a dancer in the movies. She’s so obsessed with Hollywood that she even names her farm animals after famous actors and actresses.
When Pearl catches wind of an audition for a traveling dance troupe, the lonely girl senses her chance and will do anything to win a spot…even if it means murdering everyone she knows. Howard comes home from the war to a smiling Pearl surrounded by the corpses of their entire family.
Oh, and both movies feature an alligator named Theda (after silent movie star Theda Bara) who helps Pearl both murder her adversaries and dispose of the bodies.
The character of Pearl seems to see a lot of herself in Maxine, as the two share similar lusts for stardom. Both want to succeed at any and all costs, but Pearl is a little more…psychotic about it. The elderly Pearl feels jealousy towards Maxine, which in turn triggers the violent, murderous rage that takes the lives of Maxine’s friends. Of course, Pearl and Howard were unstable decades before Maxine and company showed up, as referenced by the events of Pearl and the additional gravesites and bodies that are shown in the swamp in X, but something about Maxine’s presence at their farm just seems to ramp up that instability.
Mia Goth and Halsey in ‘MaXXXine’ (Photo Credit: Justin Lubin / A24)
MaXXXine looks as if it is going to pick up where X leaves off, following Maxine Minx into the ’80s. The young actress’ quest for stardom has brought her to Hollywood where she gets caught up in more murder and mayhem. Aesthetically, both X and Pearl were presented in the style of their time periods, X being a ’70s grindhouse slasher in the vein of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Pearl leaning into the classic Hollywood, The Wizard of Oz-type of technicolor nightmare. If MaXXXine follows this trend, fans can expect a glitzy, neon-soaked tribute to eighties Los Angeles crime dramas.
Since Maxine is the only survivor of the first two chapters of the X saga (aside from Theda the gator), It’s not clear how her past will shape her present in MaXXXine. However, one can bet that her identity as the runaway child of a crazy evangelical will come into play somehow. The police who showed up to investigate the bloodbath in X may want to talk to her as well. And who will be the villain in MaXXXine? Will Pearl possess Maxine and keep killing, or will someone new pop up to keep the slaughter going? And how will they be connected to Maxine?
We’ll get our answers in just a few short weeks when MaXXXine is released on July 5th.
Four longtime friends reunite for a destination wedding in Bleecker Street’s The Fabulous Four. The official trailer introduces the fabulous four from the film’s title, with Bette Midler as the bride-to-be. There’s a little weed, a little sex talk, and Susan Sarandon as a crazy cat lady.
The fab four’s filled out by Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
“If three’s a crowd, four’s a party! The Fabulous Four is an uproarious comedy about a group of life-long friends (Sarandon, Mullally, and Ralph) who travel to Key West, Florida, to be bridesmaids in the surprise wedding of their best college girlfriend Marilyn (Midler). Over the course of one outrageous trip, sisterhoods are rekindled, the past resurfaces, and there are enough sparks, raunch, and romance to change all their lives in unexpected ways,” reads Bleecker Street’s synopsis.
Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker) directs from a screenplay by Anne Marie Allison and Jenna Milly.
The Fabulous Four opens in theaters on July 26, 2024.
Stereophonic and Hell’s Kitchen earned the most 77th Annual Tony Awards nominations with 13, but it was Stereophonic that emerged with the most wins. Stereophonic earned five Tonys, with The Outsiders, Merrily We Roll Along, and Appropriate following close behind.
Daniel Radcliffe, Sarah Paulson, Jonathan Groff, and Jeremy Strong were among the first-time Tony Awards winners. With her win in for Best Costume Design, Dede Ayite became the first Black woman to win a Tony in that category.
Tony and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) hosted the show which aired live on CBS on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
2024 Tony Awards Nominees and Winners
Best Book of a Musical
Hell’s Kitchen – Kristoffer Diaz
The Notebook – Bekah Brunstetter
The Outsiders – Adam Rapp and Justin Levine WINNER: Suffs – Shaina Taub
Water for Elephants – Rick Elice
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Days of Wine and Roses – Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel
Here Lies Love – Music: David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Lyrics: David Byrne
The Outsiders – Music & Lyrics: Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine
Stereophonic – Music & Lyrics: Will Butler WINNER: Suffs – Music & Lyrics: Shaina Taub
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
William Jackson Harper, Uncle Vanya
Leslie Odom, Jr., Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Liev Schreiber, Doubt: A Parable WINNER: Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People
Michael Stuhlbarg, Patriots
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Betsy Aidem, Prayer for the French Republic
Jessica Lange, Mother Play
Rachel McAdams, Mary Jane WINNER: Sarah Paulson, Appropriate
Amy Ryan, Doubt: A Parable
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Brody Grant, The Outsiders WINNER: Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along
Dorian Harewood, The Notebook
Brian d’Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses
Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Eden Espinosa, Lempicka WINNER: Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen
Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Maryann Plunkett, The Notebook
Gayle Rankin, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play WINNER: Will Brill, Stereophonic
Eli Gelb, Stereophonic
Jim Parsons, Mother Play
Tom Pecinka, Stereophonic
Corey Stoll, Appropriate
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Doubt: A Parable
Juliana Canfield, Stereophonic
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Mother Play
Sarah Pidgeon, Stereophonic WINNER: Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Roger Bart, Back to the Future: The Musical
Joshua Boone, The Outsiders
Brandon Victor Dixon, Hell’s Kitchen
Sky Lakota-Lynch, The Outsiders WINNER: Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along
Steven Skybell, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Shoshana Bean, Hell’s Kitchen
Amber Iman, Lempicka
Nikki M. James, Suffs
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Monty Python’s Spamalot WINNER: Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen
Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll Along
Bebe Neuwirth, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Scenic Design of a Play
dots, Appropriate
dots, An Enemy of the People
Derek McLane, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding WINNER: David Zinn, Stereophonic
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, The Outsiders
Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Hell’s Kitchen
Takeshi Kata, Water for Elephants
David Korins, Here Lies Love
Riccardo Hernández and Peter Nigrini, Lempicka
Tim Hatley and Finn Ross, Back to the Future: The Musical WINNER: Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Costume Design of a Play
Dede Ayite, Appropriate WINNER: Dede Ayite, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Enver Chakartash, Stereophonic
Emilio Sosa, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, An Enemy of the People
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Hell’s Kitchen WINNER: Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby
David Israel Reynoso, Water for Elephants
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Paul Tazewell, Suffs
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd, An Enemy of the People
Amith Chandrashaker, Prayer for the French Republic
Jiyoun Chang, Stereophonic WINNER: Jane Cox, Appropriate
Natasha Katz, Grey House
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Brandon Stirling Baker, Illinoise
Isabella Byrd, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Natasha Katz, Hell’s Kitchen
Bradley King and David Bengali, Water for Elephants WINNER: Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim, The Outsiders
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Leah Gelpe, Mary Jane
Tom Gibbons, Grey House
Bray Poor and Will Pickens, Appropriate WINNER: Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic
Best Sound Design of a Musical
M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love
Kai Harada, Merrily We Roll Along
Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gareth Owen, Hell’s Kitchen WINNER: Cody Spencer, The Outsiders
Best Direction of a Play WINNER: Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic
Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane
Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate
Whitney White, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Best Direction of a Musical
Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along
Michael Greif, Hell’s Kitchen
Leigh Silverman, Suffs
Jessica Stone, Water for Elephants WINNER: Danya Taymor, The Outsiders
Best Choreography
Annie-B Parson, Here Lies Love
Camille A. Brown, Hell’s Kitchen
Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders WINNER: Justin Peck, Illinoise
Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants
Best Orchestrations
Timo Andres, Illinoise
Will Butler and Justin Craig, Stereophonic
Justin Levine, Matt Hinkley and Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance), The Outsiders
Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone, Hell’s Kitchen WINNER: Jonathan Tunick, Merrily We Roll Along
Best Play
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Mary Jane
Mother Play
Prayer for the French Republic WINNER: Stereophonic
Best Musical
Hell’s Kitchen
Illinoise WINNER: The Outsiders
Suffs
Water for Elephants
Best Revival of a Play WINNER: Appropriate
An Enemy of the People
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Best Revival of a Musical
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gutenberg! The Musical! WINNER: Merrily We Roll Along
The Who’s Tommy
Poster for HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks In Season with the AFC North’
HBO’s latest addition to the award-winning sports documentary series Hard Knocks is taking a wider look at the NFL season. Hard Knocks In Season is expanding to tackle an entire NFL division with Hard Knocks In Season with the AFC North.
The four teams in the spotlight are the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. The season premieres on HBO on December 3, 2024, with new episodes airing on Tuesdays at 9pm ET/PT.
Hard Knocks In Season with the AFC North will continue through the regular season and into the NFL playoffs.
“Last season the AFC North became the first division ever to have all four teams finish with a winning record, making it the perfect place to launch this new approach to Hard Knocks. We thank the Bengals, Browns, Ravens, and Steelers for the opportunity to showcase some of the greatest rivalries in football and present the intensity of a playoff chase from all four corners of this incredibly competitive division,” stated Keith Cossrow, Vice President and Head of Content, NFL Films.
Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller, Co-Executive Vice Presidents, HBO Documentary & Family Programming, and Bentley Weiner, Vice President, HBO Sports Documentaries issued a joint statement on the new installment of Hard Knocks In Season. “We are ecstatic to expand the Hard Knocks universe with our partners at NFL Films to the always thrilling AFC North division race. In 2024, Hard Knocks will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and the Chicago Bears. What a year it will be on HBO and Max for football fans everywhere,” said Abraham, Heller, and Weiner.
HBO released this synopsis of Hard Knocks In Season with the AFC North:
“Hard Knocks In Season with the AFC North will document the battle for the AFC North crown during the final six weeks of the NFL season, as well as a playoff run for the division-winner and any AFC North Wild Card teams. The 18-time Emmy-winning series will deliver its signature all-access coverage as it follows the Mike Tomlin-coached Pittsburgh Steelers, who have never been featured on Hard Knocks in the history of the series, as well as coach John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens, coach Zac Taylor’s Cincinnati Bengals, and coach Kevin Stefanski’s Cleveland Browns. Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields will share the Hard Knocks spotlight with Derrick Henry, Ja’Marr Chase, Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, and an array of other AFC North star players.”
Vampires have undergone an odd renaissance in the 21st century. They’ve always been somewhat romantic characters, but the teenage paranormal fiction craze has them falling in love and sparkling. As such, it takes a special movie to break the mold and not feel stale. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person may just be that movie.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is about a reluctant young vampire named Sasha (Sara Montpetit) who is being pressured by her family to make her first kill and begin to feed for herself. While half-heartedly hunting, she comes across what she believes may be the solution to her problem – a lonely boy named Paul (Félix-Antione Bénard) with suicidal tendencies who is willing to die for her. But as their friendship blossoms, Paul realizes that he may not want to die as much as he thinks he does – and Sasha may not be as averse to killing as she thinks she is.
Directed by Ariane Louis-Seize from a script she wrote with Christine Doyon, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is less of a horror movie and more of a quirky little coming-of-age tale. Bloodshed and brutality are involved, but the movie is more about the main characters trying to avoid it rather than embrace it. And about how both Sasha and Paul are confused about their places in the world and how they fit in with their respective lives.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is a dark movie, both visually and narratively. Predictably, most of it takes place at night when vampires can roam free, so nearly every scene is draped in darkness and shadow. Sasha even has a wonderful plain-Jane goth look that would probably make people jokingly ask her if she was a vampire if she did wander out in the daytime. Paul’s dread is in his soul – he’s hopelessly unhappy with a bleak outlook on his life and future. He himself claims that he just doesn’t enjoy life. So, Sasha and Paul seem like a match made in heaven.
Despite this dark aesthetic, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is more humorous than it is scary. As is apparent from its title, there’s a black comedy edge to the movie. The awkwardness between Sasha and Paul is uncomfortably comedic, sort of like laughing at the situation they are in more than laughing at the characters themselves, who are, frankly, not funny at all. Sasha’s family, who are all more traditional vampires, are more comical, and while their bickering antics may not be trying to be funny, they are the clowns to Sasha’s straight man.
One of the brightest and most refreshing aspects of Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is how it sticks to vampire lore without leaning heavily on it. Sure, all of the tropes are there, from immortality (Sasha looks like a teenager, but is actually 68 years old) to avoiding sunlight (at one point, Sasha and her cousin have to hurry to dispose of a body before the sun comes up), but the movie doesn’t depend completely on these stereotypes to make its point. In fact, some of the tropes are treated with the film’s trademarked black humor, such as in one scene where Paul asks Sasha how she feels about crosses (“it’s more like an allergy”).
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person does for vampires what Warm Bodies did for zombies about ten years ago or so. It flips the script, turning the monsters into misunderstood heroes. And, while it’s hard to call it fun, it is an enjoyable movie, if only for the fact that it’s a creative and unique take on one of the oldest and most proven movie monsters. And we don’t mean creative in the sparkly sense, either.
Harry Collett and Tom Taylor in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 episode 1 (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
HBO’s House of the Dragon season two features brand new opening credits, with dragons squaring off, sparks flying, and Westeros turning red with flames and blood. Season two episode one finds the Seven Kingdoms in chaos as King Aegon II Targaryen attempts to gather support to fight off a challenge from King Viserys’ rightful heir, Queen Rhaenyra. Prince Daemon and Queen Rhaenyra also gather their forces while simultaneously mourning the tragic loss of Prince Lucerys.
And now on to the full spoiler-filled recap of the season two premiere, “A Son for a Son.”
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the new season’s first scene is either a flashback or flash-forward as a crow leads the way to Winterfell. It’s neither. Harry Collett, who plays Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, son of Queen Rhaenyra, has matured between seasons. That, and his new haircut, could cause momentary confusion. However, it’s quickly established that Jace is visiting Winterfell to seek the support of the Starks.
We all know the North never forgets. (Also, winter is coming.) Jace has a friendly visit with Lord Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), reminding him of the oath sworn to King Viserys and his heir, Rhaenyra. War will soon tear apart the Seven Kingdoms, and Queen Rhaenyra needs House Stark on her side.
Although they never forget their oaths, Lord Cregan believes the North’s first duty is to guard the wall during the winter. Jace gets his first look at the vast world beyond the wall and is stunned into silence. “Do you think my ancestors built a 700-foot wall of ice to keep out snow and savages?” asks Stark. They built it to keep out death.
Stark is willing to send his “greybeards” to defend the throne. They are veterans of numerous battles but too old to hold a watch on the wall. Jace acknowledges that his mother will be grateful to have them join her fight against the usurpers.
A raven arrives with urgent news from Dragonstone, cutting their conversation short.
Matt Smith in season 2 of ‘House of the Dragon’ (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
Death Rocks Dragonstone
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) has only just dismounted Meleys (also known as the Red Queen) when Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) orders her to mount up. Rhaenys disregards his request, exhausted after patrolling hundreds of miles of sea holding the Gullet blockade. However, Daemon almost convinces her when he reveals he is heading to King’s Landing to kill Vhagar and its rider. He can’t do either without Meleys’ help. (Vhagar is the largest dragon in the realm.)
Daemon admits to devising the plan himself and is determined to avenge Prince Lucerys’ death by killing Prince Aemond Targaryen. Instead of being out seeking support from allies, he seeks revenge. Unfortunately, Queen Rhaenyra left after the news of Luke’s death and Daemon’s taken it upon himself to handle matters.
Rhaenys believes Rhaenyra is justified in taking time to search for her son’s remains. It is the only way she’ll be convinced that he’s dead. Daemon, never one to mince words, reminds Rhaenys that she could have ended all this by killing Queen Alicent and her sons when she had the opportunity. Rhaenys doesn’t bother to respond.
Daemon commands her to fly with him. She correctly points out that he’s not the king.
The port’s bustling as Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) carefully makes his way toward his ship. Lord Corlys suffered grave injuries in the battle for the Stepstones, and it also heavily damaged his ship. Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) reports seven ships were just launched to help fortify the blockade, but that’s inadequate given how much territory must be covered. Lord Corlys is determined to get back out to sea as quickly as possible.
Alyn hands Lord Corlys the knife that was commissioned for Prince Lucerys. It’s a beautiful weapon that, sadly, Lucerys will never get a chance to hold. Corlys thanks Alyn for saving his life by dragging him out of the sea and assures him he’s in his debt.
Our first glimpse of King’s Landing in season two shows Ser Arryk Cargyll (Luke Tittensor), the twin who remained loyal to the Hightowers, in charge of the watch as Vhagar arrives with Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). Elsewhere in the castle, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) collects his oldest son, Jaehaerys, for a meeting with the small council. While doing so, Queen Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) reveals she’s afraid of the rats. Aegon never takes any of Helaena’s bizarre statements seriously. It’s a mistake that will come back to haunt him once again.
Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) pleasures Queen Dowager Alicent (Olivia Cooke) before the small council meeting. She warns him, again, that they need to stop their sexual relationship. It’s obvious Criston knows he’ll be back in Alicent’s bed soon.
A ratcatcher makes his way through the castle as the small council assembles.
Prince Jaehaerys pesters Master of Coin Ser Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) to the point where if he wasn’t royal blood, the child would find himself on the receiving end of a brutal spanking. Ser Otto Hightower, Hand of the King, reports the Vale and the North aren’t responding to their letters. On the bright side, the Stormlands will likely pledge their support and Oldtown is already on the march. They don’t expect trouble until they reach the Riverlands.
Alicent sent a letter to Queen Rhaenyra in an attempt to negotiate terms and avert war. Rhaenyra hasn’t replied and Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) believes war is inevitable. The blockade is already impacting King’s Landing, and Ser Otto (Rhys Ifans) points out there’s no longer an element of surprise working in their favor.
The only way to break Lord Corlys Velaryon’s blockade is to bolster the Lannister and Hightower navies. Grand Maester Orwyle suggests that they name Lord Dalton Greyjoy the new Master of Ships.
Aemond arrives at the small council at King Aegon’s request. Aemond, their best fighter, is good at strategizing and believes Harrenhal is crucial to making it through the Riverlands. Aegon is horrible at strategizing and prefers to just wipe out the Riverlords with Vhagar and Sunfyre, if they refuse to bend the knee. Alicent advises caution. Aegon disagrees. Lord Tully will join them or burn.
Alicent and Criston Cole combine forces to convince Aegon that Vhagar needs to remain at King’s Landing to prevent Rhaenyra from attacking. Alicent pointedly looks at Aemond as she reminds them Rhaenyra will want revenge for the death of her son.
King Aegon reacts to Ser Otto’s request for patience and restraint with a frustrated sigh. They’re still gathering supporters and Aegon needs to wait for their replies.
Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) approaches Alicent after the meeting and reveals that he found all the traitors among her staff and disposed of them. He personally chose her new staff.
Fishermen are busy grabbing what they can from the remains of Luke’s dragon, Arrax, as Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) briefly watches from a nearby hill. She sends them scurrying away by landing Syrax next to Arrax’s dead body. She drops to her knees and gently touches the remains. Rhaenyra sobs as she finds Luke’s cloak caught up in a fisherman’s net. Syrax lets out a mournful wail, matching his rider’s sobs.
Tom Glynn-Carney in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 episode 1 (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
King Aegon arrives to hear petitions from the citizens, and for the first time, we hear his full title announced out loud. “Aegon the Magnanimous, Second of His Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.”
Even Aegon’s surprised by the “magnanimous” title.
Just one petition in and Aegon quickly realizes he’s going to hate this part of being a king. Every action he takes is met with a correction by Ser Otto. Aegon has no grasp of politics and apparently no desire to learn. He was also unaware that everything he says and does will be known to all in the kingdom.
Hugh (Kieran Bow) stands before King Aegon and speaks for the smiths. Their work is vital to the realm, but they haven’t been paid. Iron costs are increasing, and they are struggling to purchase the materials needed to forge scorpions and other weapons. King Aegon acknowledges the importance of the smallfolk in his victory and confirms the smiths will be paid well. It’s not the answer Ser Otto wanted him to deliver, but King Aegon ignores his Hand and wins this round.
Lord Larys is, as always, lurking nearby, and after the session ends, he grabs a quick moment with King Aegon. Larys sows the seeds of distrust, wondering if Ser Otto is working in the king’s best interest. After all, Ser Otto was Aegon’s father’s hand. That doesn’t mean he needs to continue in the role. Aegon won’t be able to set himself apart from his father if he continues to take advice from Otto.
Alicent demands that her father stop attempting to cut off her influence over Aegon. She wants a peaceful solution and it’s obvious Otto seeks power – for himself and his family – no matter the cost. Otto acknowledges things haven’t gone as he planned following Viserys’ death. Alicent expresses concern about her sons, and Otto claims Aemond is loyal and wishes only to please his mother. Alicent asks her father, again, to stop undermining her with her sons.
Otto believes the only path to victory is violence. Alicent agrees … but not wanton violence.
Lord Corlys Velaryon’s men board a ship and find Mysaria, aka the White Worm, hiding on board. She’s brought to Daemon and he demands to know how long she sold secrets to Otto Hightower. Her answer angers Daemon and he insists she’s responsible for putting Aegon on the throne.
“My arrangement with the Hand was purely transactional. I held no loyalty to him,” says Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) who, thankfully, no longer speaks in the bizarre accent from season one. Really, what was that anyway? Such a weird choice. She insists she knows nothing helpful about Otto’s plans.
Daemon orders Ser Erryk Cargyll (Elliott Tittensor) to take Mysaria to the cells and treat her as a traitor. Erryk resists and takes Mysaria’s side. (Huge mistake.) Daemon, as usual, lashes out and insists Erryk is also a traitor. Erryk stands his ground and reminds Daemon he abandoned the King’s Guard to pledge his support to Rhaenyra. Daemon has nothing to say when Erryk points out that he swore an oath to the Royal family and didn’t know what to do when they turned against each other.
Harry Collett, Emma D’Arcy, and Oscar Eskinazi in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 (Photograph by Theo Whitman/HBO)
Queen Rhaenyra, The First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, returns to Dragonstone. She found what she needed and is ready to address her council. Daemon’s ready to fly to Harrenhal and Princess Rhaenys reports Ser Corlys’ blockade of the Gullet is cutting off King’s Landing. Rhaenyra listens and coldly replies, “I want Aemond Targaryen.”
She exits the meeting without any further comment. You can almost see the wheels turning in Daemon’s head as he watches her leave.
Daemon visits Mysaria in her cell and cuts a deal. He’ll set her free if she provides the information he needs.
Prince Jacaerys has returned from Winterfell and joins his mother in her chambers. Voice shaking, he does his best to maintain a professional manner as he reports Lady Jeyne Arryn has pledged the Vale’s support in exchange for a dragon to stand guard. Jace makes it through that okay, but his voice cracks and his eyes fill with tears as he confirms Lord Cregan Stark has pledged 2,000 men. Rhaenyra rises from her seat and Jace collapses into her arms, sobbing. They hold each other tight in shared sorrow.
Later, the family attends Luke’s funeral. Rhaenyra lights the funeral pyre, burning the only piece of clothing she recovered. Jace and his younger brother also place items in the fire in remembrance of their beloved brother.
Simultaneously, Alicent lights a candle for her mother, Alyrie Florent, and Viserys Targaryen. Her final candle is for Lucerys Velaryon.
The flames of the funeral pyre pale in comparison to the fire burning in Rhaenyra’s eyes as she says goodbye to Luke.
Daemon makes his way to King’s Landing in the dead of night. He pays off a member of the King’s Guard who the White Worm told him hated the Hightowers. The guard smuggles him in to see one of Aegon’s ratcatchers. Daemon is willing to pay off the man’s debts, and the ratcatcher confirms he knows the way around the Red Keep and Maegor’s tunnels. Daemon introduces him to the guard and orders them to slay Aemond, the prince with silver hair and one eye. Both men agree.
Elsewhere, Aemond and Criston are plotting how to bring the war to an end quickly. Aemond’s anxious to stop wasting time waiting for their allies to gather. He’d rather use Vhagar to vanquish their enemies, while Criston leads the army on the ground. They continue to plot, and Criston believes they should get Aegon to secretly agree to their plan.
However, Aemond doesn’t think Aegon will agree. Alicent and Otto have Aegon’s ear, and they’re advising caution. Aemond thinks his mom blames him for the war, even though she actively plotted to usurp Rhaenyra’s throne. Criston defends his secret lover and blames Rhaenyra for drawing Alicent into her web.
“She holds love for our enemy. That makes her a fool,” declares Aemond.
A short while later, Otto advises Aemond not to act on his own without Aegon’s consent. Otto thinks Aemond doesn’t see the whole chessboard and needs to keep his impulses reined in.
Fabien Frankel and Ewan Mitchell in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
Queen Helaena’s Prophesy Comes True
The guard and ratcatcher make their way through the tunnels and even pass by King Aegon holding court on the Iron Throne with his friends. Aegon and his compadres are busy coming up with a new nickname to replace Magnanimous and don’t acknowledge either the ratcatcher or the guard as they walk by, eyes on the floor.
The guard and ratcatcher have a brief argument about the route to King Aegon’s chambers. After a heated exchange, they arrive on the floor where the royals maintain bedrooms. The guard steals a few items from a room and orders the ratcatcher to set a trap as cover. He also reminds the ratcatcher that Daemon won’t pay them unless they return with Aemond’s severed head.
The guard is seen by a maid and quickly leaves a trap before catching up with the ratter holding Queen Helaena at knifepoint. The assassins have made a disastrous mistake. They were meant to kill Alicent’s son Aemond and instead are targeting Aegon and Helaena’s children asleep in nearby beds. It’s impossible to tell the children’s sexes so they force Helaena to point to her son. Helaena considers her response for a minute and then points to a child.
The guard assumes she wouldn’t point to the king’s heir, but something in her eyes makes the ratcatcher believe she’s telling the truth. The gruesome murder is heard but the actual decapitation takes place off-screen as Helaena flees with her daughter.
She runs through the halls but doesn’t cry out for help. Helaena pushes open the door to Alicent’s room, catching Alicent and Criston having sex. Alicent is shocked and asks what’s happening. Helaena replies, “They killed the boy.”
Steve Toussaint and Eve Best in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
If Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen is going to win the battle for the Iron Throne, she’s going to need the full support of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. Fortunately for those rooting for Team Black, as HBO’s House of the Dragon season two begins, the Sea Snake and The Queen Who Never Was have fully committed to toppling the usurper, King Aegon II Targaryen, from the Iron Throne.
Leading up to the show’s season two premiere, Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys), Eve Best (Princess Rhaenys), and Bethany Antonia (Lady Baela Targaryen) participated in a lengthy press conference hosted by HBO. During the Q&A, Toussaint, Best, and Antonia discussed their characters, dragon riding, and the importance of representation in large-scale productions like House of the Dragon.
Season two premieres on Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT.
On choosing not to read the book to learn his character’s fate:
Steve Toussaint: “We were given the book. I chose not to look at the book at all not because of spoilers, but simply because they are two different mediums. Do you know what I mean? What happens is you read the book and you go, ‘Oh my god, my character does this. It’s fantastic.’ And then Ryan [Condal] goes, ‘No, he’s not going to do that.’ And you go, ‘But in the book…’ So, I didn’t want to fall in love with what was on the page.
Every so often, fans will tell me, and I’m like, ‘Well, that doesn’t guarantee anything.’ Because he’s devious. We might not always stick to the book. For me, I felt it to be better to just play what was in the script rather than what I would have read anywhere else.”
On the experience of riding House of the Dragon dragons:
Eve Best: “I was never off my dragon. It’s just exactly like riding a dragon in real life. It’s desperately uncomfortable in armor and I kept shouting, ‘Bring me more cushions! Bring me more padding! I need more padding!’ You’re just so uncomfortable and you’re in this kind of position with your legs up under your feet. You’re wearing this kind of tin can and they were rocking you.
[…] It was horrendous … no, it wasn’t horrendous. It was amazing. I loved every second of it. Can’t wait to do more. I felt rather proud of myself that I came off it alive.”
Bethany Antonia: “The bit that I found the most exciting was that you get to see what they’ve animated already before you get on the dragon. So, you get to see what it’s going to look like. Obviously, like the cartoon version of yours. And then you get on and it’s like a bucking bronco, and it’s so cool.
What made me laugh was that it always comes down to a guy with a wind machine. Like, no matter how much budget you have, how much CGI, there’s always going to be a guy with a wind machine and you’re going to be upside down. It was just the most fun. But I loved the days on the buck. Yeah.”
On special challenges faced while filming season two:
Eve Best: “I think it was sad that we weren’t all together so much as we had been in season one. It wasn’t sad like crying into a pillow every night sad, but it was nice that feeling of camaraderie in the face of awful s**t that was going on. It was very nice to feel that we were all coming together. And this season we were all separated and going through [things].
(Referring to Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy) I mean, you have talked a bunch about chinks in your relationship. The same was going on with us in a different context, but that was because he had always been Rhaenys’ absolute rock and now it starts to sort of crumble a little bit, starts to crumble a lot. And that was a big challenge for me.”
Steve Toussaint: “I feel with Corlys there are only two places where he is completely comfortable and himself. One is at sea and the other is alone with his wife. That’s the time when you see him truly not having to … when he’s in the small council, he has to put on a front, and he feels he’s better than everybody there. But in those two situations, he’s completely honest. She is his rock. And in season two, things that he did in the past come [back]. He has to confront them, and he has to deal with them. And they put this sacred relationship under strain for him.
I think, for the first time, he’s aware that he could possibly lose this precious thing, his wife. So, it was an interesting journey.”
On music that puts them in the House of the Dragon mindset:
Steve Toussaint: “Well, I was going to say, actually, for me it depends on the scene. There’s no one song that would make me feel like Corlys. But if I’m doing an emotional scene with Eve, then I might look for a sad love song or something. Well, when I say sad, something deep, possibly. But I don’t think I have a theme, particularly.”
Eve Best: “I made a whole playlist this season. But it always started with my power, Beyonce, I Need Ya, which is a really good way to start the day.”
On their characters’ astrological signs:
Bethany Antonia: “I didn’t choose a star sign for Baela, but I wish I had, and maybe I’ll think about that and I’ll decide on one.”
Eve Best: “Well, I would say Scorpio men, chaos. Scorpio women, mother. All the greatest mother figures in my life have been Scorpio. And I feel like that’s an energy that Rhaenys certainly feels like she carries in this season, especially, just holding everybody in all the chaos.”
Steve Toussaint: “I hadn’t either, but the minute you said it, I thought, ‘Well, he’s definitely a fire sign.’ And then I thought, ‘Well, he’s Aries,’ which happens to be what I am. But it makes sense.
But to hear Eve say Scorpio makes so much sense, because I once was in a relationship with a Scorpio. But that surfeit …, is that the right word …excessive passion is evident with this couple, I think. So, it makes sense.”
Bethany Antonia and Harry Collett in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
On the incredibly strong female characters in this complex world:
Bethany Antonia: “I think that we get to see the women really step up to the plate in this season, and we’ve seen that all the way through. But now, specifically, in a time of such crisis and such war, we see them being the decision-makers. And I think for Baela, she’s taken so many of her influences from Rhaenys because she spent such a long time with her, and that’s where she grew up, really, when [Corlys] was away off at sea. She spent all of her time at Driftmark with Rhaenys and that’s the figurehead that she kind of aspires to be and has learned to behave from. So, I think she takes all of her influences from her.”
On the importance of representation with key House of the Dragon characters:
Bethany Antonia: “It was so important to me to be in a franchise of this scale, because I didn’t get to see that when I was younger. And not that only young people watch these kinds of shows, not at all, but when you’re that age, that’s when you start to develop what your dreams are going to be and what your aspirations are going to be. And if you don’t see it, you can’t believe it.
I really wanted to be in something like this, so that there were people who had somebody to dress up like. And I know that might sound really basic, but those are the things that you get to enjoy when you’re in these kinds of fandoms. It’s one privilege that we just didn’t have. We didn’t have anybody to dress up like. We didn’t, and it’s like a bit of joy that you get to do when you go to these conventions and things. And so even if just for that, if one person gets to see it and go, ‘Wow, that’s somebody who is like me,’ it was worth it.”
Steve Toussaint: “Absolutely, I would second that. I think people, if you’re used to being represented, representation doesn’t mean as much because you’re used to it. When I was a kid in the dark ages and there would be science fiction programs and there were very few, if any, people who looked like me, looked like us, me and my friends used to joke about it. This is set in the future and we’re not there. What are they going do to us?
But I can’t tell you the amount of people who have contacted me – and not just people of color – who have contacted me through social media or through letters and said how pleased they are to see this representation in this world. Because exactly what Bethany said, it is important for you to feel like you are something, that you are part of it, that you have a contribution to make.
And so I think it’s vital. And, certainly, I think some of you may be aware that there was some negative response when I was first announced, I have since then had people sort of go, ‘Yeah, I was a bit dubious about you, but actually you did a great job and well done.’ But I think we are living in a world in which everybody is here. And I think everybody has a right to be represented, people of different races, people of different genders, people of gender identity, and so forth. That is the world I think we should be striving for.
There are voices out there that would argue against that. But I think those of us who want to see that world, I think history is on our side.”
