Steve Toussaint, Tom Glynn-Carney, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia and Phoebe Campbell hit the Taormina Film Festival on Wednesday night for an atmospheric preview of the third season of HBO‘s House of the Dragon in the town’s Ancient Greek amphitheater.
Some 5,000 people, from school kids to pensioners, filled out the historic site which was built by the Ancient Greeks to stage plays and music and dance performance and then expanded by the Romans who used it for gladiator tournaments.
Creator and showrunner Ryan Condal did not make the trip but sent a video message saying he could not think of a more fitting place for a screening of the show.
Season 3 continues the bloody battle between the warring factions of the House of Targaryen for control of the Iron Throne. On the Green side, Aegon II Targaryen (Glynn-Carney) has fled King’s Landing, leaving his brother Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) in control alongside his mother Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke).
On the Black Council side, half-sister Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) continues to plot for the crown from Dragonstone with support of loyal son Jacaerys Velaryon (Collett) and in league by with master seaman Lord Corlys Velaryon (Toussaint).
As promised by Toussaint at Deadline’s SXSW London Studio last week, episode 1 features a spectacular naval battle scene in which his character comes up against arch enemy, female admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn).
Ahead of Wednesday night’s screening, Toussaint talked about the deep connections between House of the Dragon and Games of Thrones to which it is a prequel.
“In terms of our journey through the Westerose realm, well we are their ancestors. We’re setting the pace. There are lots of moments in Game of Thrones where they refer back to the events shown by us which makes it more exciting and interesting,” he said.
Glynn-Carney got one of the largest cheers of the night as said he had enjoyed developing the character of Aegon over three seasons.
The screening was preceded by a live orchestra performance of the show’s score with a collage of images from the show projected onto the walls of the amphitheater to spectacular effect.
The episode met with an enthusiastic response from the Taormina audience with squeals of disgust when Aemond seemingly leans into kiss his mother on the lips; as well as cheers, shocked screams and collective gasps as characters fought to the death, sometimes triumphing and sometimes not.
PREVIOUSLY, 11.28 AM PT: “HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery love Taormina,” declared WBD South Europe Boss Alessandro Araimo on Wednesday as he touched down in the picturesque Sicilian hilltop town for the continental European premiere of Season 3 of House of the Dragon.
It is a love affair that began with the second season of The White Lotus, when the town acted as the backdrop to the hit series with its San Domenico Palace reimagined as a five-star Four Seasons hotel.
“The season of The White Lotus that was filmed in Taormina was an extraordinary success,” said Araimo.
“We were thrilled to be able to organize the first stop of the world tour here in Taormina… I also couldn’t help but notice the connection between the dragons and this fantastic land, Mount Etna,” he added, referring to Sicily’s landmark smoking active volcano.
Already a popular tourist destination prior to The White Lotus, visitor numbers jumped by 30% in the first year after the second season launched in October 2022.
Locals say the hype has died down since but there has been a frisson of excitement in recent days with sightings of newly-wed popstar Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner in the town amid rumors they are staying at the San Domenico Palace.
Araimo is in Taormina with House of the Dragon cast members Steve Toussaint, Tom Glynn-Carney, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell and Tim Blake Nelson for a sold-out open-air screening of Season 3 in Taormina’s 5,000-capacity Ancient Greek amphitheater within the framework of the Taormina Film Festival.
The HOTD stars have hot-footed it from London where they attended the world premiere of Season 3 on Monday evening. Speaking at press conference in Taormina, Toussaint said the positive response so far had been more than he had expected.
“You hope people will like what you do but it’s been overwhelming,” he said.
Citing the fans and the behind-the-scenes team as drivers of the show’s success, Collett expressed surprise on learning 5,000 spectators were expected in the amphitheater tonight.
Other guests this evening will include jury president Jane Campion and alongside jury members Holly Hunter, costume designer Miyako Bellizzi (Marty Supreme), casting director Francine Maisler (Sinners), director Akinola Davies Jr.(My Father’s Shadow), Amazon MGM Studios Head of Global Marketing, Film, Series Sue Kroll, and Italian star Pietro Castellitto (The Predators, Enea).
Emile Hirsch will also be attendance to receive a Taormina Film Festival Award, having earlier opened an exhibition of his art in the town.
Check back in later for an update on the gala screening.
