The first trailer for House of the Dragon has been revealed. HBO’s highly anticipated Game of Thrones prequel series is set to premiere this summer. House of the Dragon is based on George RR Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, and it takes place around 200 years before the events of the main series, following the Targaryen dynasty as they rule the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The series will chronicle the fall of the Targaryen dynasty, including the Dance of the Dragons: civil conflict, and their eventual demise.

Monarch Viserys I Targaryen, the fifth king of the Seven Kingdoms, will be played by Paddy Considine. Prince Daemon Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne, will be played by Matt Smith. Key Targaryen characters and their inner circle fill out the cast, including Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower; the King’s Hand; Olivia Cooke as Millicent Hightower, who is the King’s daughter, and Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria; Prince Daemon’s most trusted advisor. Also starring are Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, and Fabien Frankel.

HBO has released the first House of the Dragon trailer after months of anticipation. The animation depicts the start of the Targaryen civil war, which includes familial feuds and numerous players jockeying for power and control of the Iron Throne. Take a look at the trailer:

One of the major concerns moving into House of the Dragon is not only how it will make up for Game of Thrones’ contentious ending, but also how it will set itself apart from the series. While many of the places in the House of the Dragon trailer will be familiar to Game of Thrones fans, such as the throne room, King’s Landing, and the Targaryen ancestral stronghold Dragonstone, the show’s time period allows for certain variations that are sure to excite A Song of Ice and Fire fans. The book-accurate Iron Throne is possibly the most thrilling, as the swords that encircle it are closer to Martin’s original idea for the seat of power.

The dragons, though, are the most important. While there were few legendary animals in the early seasons of Game of Thrones, dragons were later introduced when Daenerys bred three. However, there will be plenty of dragon action in House of the Dragon, thanks to the Targaryens’ infighting, which allows for dragon-on-dragon combat. Unfortunately, the House of the Dragon trailer is devoid of this information. HBO is likely saving the most action-heavy elements for another trailer or the show itself. One thing the trailer shows is something every Game of Thrones fan will love – palace intrigue, ever-shifting political allegiances, and a return to Westeros. House of the Dragon will premiere on August 21.