New Report Reveals The Real Reason Miguel Sapochnik Is Not Returning For HotD Season 2

New report reveals the real reason why House of the Dragon co-showrunner and director left season 2 of the show.

By Ishita Chatterjee
January 8,2023
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“House of the Dragon” season 2 is currently being written. Almost all of the cast and crew are returning. We say almost-all because one director isn’t. Miguel Sapochnik isn’t coming back for season 2 because of his wife. Let us tell you what the actual issue is.

Why Did Miguel Sapochnik Leave House Of The Dragon Season 2?

House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon

As per Puck News, Miguel Sapochnik isn’t coming back for season 2 of “House of the Dragon” because HBO didn’t include his wife, Alexis Raben, in the production team.

Raben was involved in producing season 1 and had appeared in a total of 4 episodes out of the 10. Sapochnik on the other hand directed episodes 1, 6 and 7 of the hit HBO series.

Can the ex co-showrunner and director return? Yes, he can if he wants. But he definitely won’t be returning for season 2. Also, Miguel Sapochnik has a first-look deal with HBO. So he definitely isn’t hurting for work.

Previous Reports About The Reason Behind His Departure

Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik
Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik

It was revealed in August 2022 that Miguel Sapochnik, the co-showrunner and director of “House of the Dragon” season 1 isn’t coming back for the next season. Ryan Condal, the other showrunner of “House of the Dragon” said that his departure was because of fatigue with the “Game of Thrones” franchise. Condal said in an Entertainment Weekly interview that:

“It was definitely in Miguel’s mind. He’s definitely lived in Westeros for a really long time. I was always potentially aware that he might have just set this one season up on his feet and got the feather in his cap of doing a show that he co-ran and had a hand in the conception and casting and making of, versus the original series where he definitely became a producer at the end, was certainly I think [Thrones showrunners] David [Benioff] and Dan [“D.B.” Weiss]’s most trusted filmmaker, but not in the way that he participated in House of the Dragon. So it was always in the back of my mind.”

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Sapochnik said about his departure that:

“Working within the GOT 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 1 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.”

Production on season 2 of HotD is going smoothly as per one of the writers and they are busy writing the finale. It’s also confirmed that the next season will introduce major characters in the mix.

Stay tuned for further updates.