James Norton spotted filming huge new role for very first time
James Norton has been pictured on the set of his latest acting project for the very first time, as he gets set to make his debut in hit series House of the Dragon.
James, famed for starring in the likes of Happy Valley and Grantchester, was spotted filming scenes for the third season of the Game of Thrones spin-off alongside Matt Smith, who plays Daemon Targaryen.
James will be portraying Ormund Hightower, the head of the powerful House Hightower, and could be seen surrending his sword to Daemon in the snaps. It is unclear if Ormund is surrending or allying himself with Daemon in the scenes.
In the rare glimpse into filming, the stars could be seen acting in the Surrey countryside. James was snapped in full costume, which feature his house's colours of greens and silvers.
A release date for the third season of House of the Dragon is yet to be confirmed. After the premiere of the second series last year, it was confirmed that the show had been renewed.
Filming commenced in March and it's currently predicted that the third series will land at some point in 2026. The season will consist of eight episodes, with the story of the Targaryen civil war continuing.
Fans of the show were left disappointed with the end of the second season, with many even issuing complaints over how it concluded.
House of the Dragon had been teasing big battle scenes between two Targaryen factions as Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) tried to force his sister Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) to fight as a dragonrider. Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) prepared for battle with the stark army marching south to support Rhaenyra's claim.
At the time, fans took to social media to complain about the ending, as it did not live up to expectations. One person said: "Rhaena's been tracking this damn dragon all season and I don't get to see her claim it?! Ryan Condal when I catch you!"
"I'm tired of things being put into motion. BE IN MOTION," another person fumed on X.
House of the Dragon was created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal, and is a prequel to hit series Game of Thrones, which finished in 2019. It is the second series in George's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise.
House of the Dragon is based on parts of George's 2018 book Fire & Blood, and begins around 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest. This is nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones.
The show focuses on the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
House of the Dragon is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Lily Allen sports a diamond band on her ring finger as she enjoys bike ride in Notting Hill
Lily Allen sported a large band on her ring finger as she enjoyed a bike ride through Notting Hill in London on Sunday. The singer, 40, cut a stylish figure in a blue shirt and a brown cardigan, which she styled with blue jeans and comfortable trainers. She toted her essentials in a crossbody brown handbag and accessorised with a glitzy gold band featuring a large diamond on her left ring finger. The ring appeared to be different from the engagement and wedding band she wore during her marriage to David Harbour, who she split from at the start of the year. Her past engagement ring was silver and featured a round stone while her new piece of jewellery appeared to have a pear-shaped stone, though it is not believed to be an engagement ring. Lily, who is thought to be single and recently enjoyed a date with James Norton, moved back to London from New York following her split from David and has bought a property in Notting Hill, where she grew up. 'She's a west London girl and is loving being back,' a family friend previously told the Daily Mail. 'Her new place is just a ten-minute walk from her mum's home and they are very close.' Her mother is Alison Owen, a film producer, who worked as a producer on the Amy Winehouse biopic, Back To Black. Lily has moved back to London with her two daughters - Ethel, 13, and Marnie, 12 - who she shares with her ex-husband Sam Cooper. Last month, Lily enjoyed a night out with actor James Norton, 39, after meeting on the celebrity dating app Raya. The duo made the most of their first outing together, with the pair reportedly seen kissing backstage while attending Charli XCX's Lido Festival show. James' Raya profile is said to feature photos of the Happy Valley star with a shaved head – a dramatic new look he adopted for his role in Sunny Dancer, currently being filmed in Scotland with co-star Bella Ramsey. The actor, who is a strong contender to be the next James Bond, started dating Charlotte late last year and was pictured out with her on several occasions. Lily moved back to London from New York following her split from David and has bought a property in Notting Hill, where she grew up At the time, an insider told The Sun: 'They have been enjoying dates and seem very happy together. 'It has been a year since his relationship with [ex Imogen Potts] ended and he appears to get on so well with Charlotte. They make a lovely couple.' James has since sparked fresh rumours of a romance with socialite Flora Huddart after they were spotted out in London together. James previously dated his War And Peace co-star Jessie Buckley from 2015 to 2017 and was engaged to the actress Imogen Poots, but they split after six years together in 2023. Not long before Lily split from husband David, she turned amateur sleuth after speculating that David had 'cheated' on the same dating app where they met. She was left in 'agony' when she allegedly discovered the actor had a secret profile, The Mail on Sunday revealed. The pop star joined the app herself, pretending to be 'looking for women' – and allegedly found that David had already set up a dating profile. He was reportedly listed on the app as being active for at least a month. Once users find a new partner, they usually disable their profiles. A source said: 'Lily was looking for women that were on Raya and cross-referencing them with women David follows on Instagram to try to figure out who he was seeing. 'She was doing her Wagatha thing. Lily only rejoined Raya to try to figure out whether he was seeing someone. 'Lily has never even looked at anyone since she met David. She is devastated. He broke up with Lily a month ago.
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC Death in Paradise star Don Gilet's real life 'romance' with co-star floors fans
Death in Paradise star Don Gilet has been a firm fixture on the BBC drama since 2024 - but fans have only just realised who he is reportedly dating in real life Fans of Death in Paradise were left gobsmacked upon discovering the rumoured romantic link between star Don Gilet and his co-star. Don burst onto the scene of the much-loved detective series in 2024, portraying DI Mervin Wilson, and swiftly won over the audience as a standout character. DI Wilson arrived on the tropical scene to unravel the mysterious death of his mother, Dorna Bray (played by Judith Jacob), and by the series' conclusion, he not only cracked the case but also uncovered a secret half-brother. Before his stint in Death in Paradise, Don was notorious for his role as the villainous Lucas Johnson in EastEnders, with appearances from 2008 to 2024, and has been seen in other hits like Holby City, Shetland, and Midsomer Murders. However, it's his off-screen life that's causing a stir, with reports suggesting he's romantically involved with Siobhan Finneran, whom he shared the screen with in the 2017 drama The Loch, reports Wales Online. Siobhan, an acclaimed actress herself, is recognised for her portrayals of Miss O'Brien in Downton Abbey, Clare in Happy Valley, and Janice Harvey in Benidorm, which she starred in from 2007 until 2015. The pair reportedly hit it off while filming together in 2017. Although they've kept mum about their relationship status, they've been spotted hand-in-hand at various events, sparking rumours. Adding to the whispers, Siobhan affectionately called Don "my fella" in a chat with The Guardian, further hinting at their special bond. Fans are absolutely gobsmacked after discovering the buzz about the alleged couple, Don and Siobhan. On a Facebook fan page, a photo of the duo prompted one user to post: "Aw I didn't know they were a couple, both talented actors." Another fan expressed their admiration: "I LOVE Siobhan Finneran, so now I love Don Gilet even more." A third added their well-wishes: "Hope they are happy, she's brilliant in Happy Valley, such a talented actor." Before rumours of his 'romance' with Siobhan surfaced, Don was once married to actress Tracy Whitwell, known for her roles in Peep Show and Soldier, Soldier. The ex-couple resided in Bedfordshire and have a son named Flynn. Siobhan, on the other hand, was married for 17 years to British actor Mark Jordon, famed for his parts in Emmerdale and Heartbeat. They parted ways in 2014 and have two children together, Poppy and Joseph.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Chief of War on Apple TV+: Everything you need to know about Jason Momoa's 10-year passion project
Jason Momoa has been working on Chief of War for a decade and the historical epic drama will finally be released later this week Jason Momoa is set to captivate audiences in the upcoming historical epic, Chief of War, where he not only stars but also takes on the roles of executive producer and co-writer. Touted as the next big hit following Game of Thrones, the Hawaiian-American icon, known for his roles in Aquaman and A Minecraft Movie, has been developing this project alongside showrunner Thomas Paʻa Sibbett for an impressive ten years. The inaugural nine-part season of Chief of War is set to make a grand entrance with a two-part premiere on Apple TV+ later this week, promising to unveil Hawaii's rich and tumultuous history like fans have never been seen before. Adding to the show's authenticity, the cast will deliver most of their lines in the native Ōlelo Hawai'i language, which Momoa admits was even more challenging to master than Dothraki. As we gear up for one of the most anticipated new historical dramas, let's delve into what we know about Chief of War, reports the Mirror US. What is Chief of War about? For the first time in a major television production, Chief of War shines a light on Hawaii during the pivotal 18th-19th Century era. Stepping into the shoes of Ka'iana, a renowned warrior of Hawaiian nobility, Game of Thrones star Momoa portrays the character's struggles with political power and encroaching Western settlers during a critical time for the Pacific Islands. His character, Ka'iana, becomes an iconic figure in Hawaiian lore after his travels abroad and subsequent return to engage in a fierce battle that will decide the destiny of his homeland. The series sets the stage with a synopsis stating: "The story begins at the turn of the 19th century when the four major kingdoms of the Hawaiian Islands were in a state of war. "The series follows Kaʻiana, a warrior chief (aliʻi) of Kauaʻi who travels outside of the islands as the 'most famous Hawaiian in the world ', returns home and joins a bloody campaign until, at the last minute, he rebels against the unification of Hawaiʻi that took place from 1782 to 1810 under Kamehameha I." Who is in the cast of Chief of War? Jason Momoa takes centre stage as the infamous warrior Ka'iana, hot on the heels of his blockbuster appearances in Minecraft, Aquaman and Fast X. He's accompanied by a predominantly Polynesian ensemble, featuring both seasoned performers and emerging talent. The lineup boasts Star Wars legend and Momoa's Aquaman colleague Temuera Morrison as Chief Kahekili, The Night Agent's Luciane Buchanan as Kaʻahumanu and Avatar and The Meg's Cliff Curtis. Completing the supporting ensemble are fresh faces including Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Kaina Makua, Te Kohe Tuhaka and Moses Goods. Additional cast members comprise Siua Ikaleʻo, Brandon Finn, James Udom, Mainei Kinimaka, Siaosi Fonua, Benjamin Hoetjes, and Erroll Shand. When will Chief of War be released? Anticipating fans won't have to wait much longer as Chief of War debuts this Friday, 1st August. The opening two episodes will drop at midnight. It will subsequently maintain a weekly release pattern of fresh episodes, continuing through until Friday, 19th September. While the drama was initially commissioned as an eight-episode miniseries, the inclusion of a ninth episode in the first series might suggest that Momoa and Sibbett have intentions for the drama to carry on. However, there's no confirmation about a second series at this point.
