HBO drama House of the Dragon flies into North Wales for third season
Drama HBO House of the Dragon yn hedfan i Ogledd Cymru am y trydydd tymor
The smash hit production filmed on location across North Wales during Summer 2025; Production Funding support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales ensured trainee placements and job opportunities in the region.
Avid viewers of House of the Dragon may, once again, recognise key Welsh locations when the new series reaches screens later this year, after HBO spent June and July filming at several locations across Anglesey, Conwy and Gwynedd.
Filming locations included Beaumaris Pier on Anglesey, Craig Yr Undeb (Union Rock) in Gwynedd and Ffynon Llugwy, a stunning lake in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
The second and third seasons of the drama received Production Funding from Creative Wales, with £674,600 provided for season three, the investment is expected to generate £6.7 million for the Welsh economy.
Behind the camera, 12 trainees were offered paid placements at entry level, working in roles such as Costume, Set Decoration and Props, Camera, and Sound. A further five were given upskilling roles, and the First Break shadowing scheme led by Sgil Cymru and Crew HQ gave six people the chance to work across different departments.
Alongside training, the team on the ground also offered a Welsh language lesson for all crew members to learn basic phrases and held a Location Marshals bootcamp where local people signed up for future work.
Jack Sargeant, Minister for Creative said:
"This production brings the beauty of North Wales to screens worldwide and further strengthens Wales’s reputation as a leading filming destination.
"Our investment supports local jobs, skills and training while delivering significant economic benefits for the region. We’re grateful to HBO for the opportunities created for people in North Wales, particularly those starting careers in TV and film."
Kevin De La Noy, Executive Producer on House of the Dragon, said:
"House of the Dragon Cast and Crew were delighted to return to Wales, to a landscape and locale that adds such visual power and vibrant dimension to the storytelling."
Season 3 returning cast: Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, Matthew Needham, Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew, Kurt Egyiawan, Freddie Fox, Clinton Liberty, Gayle Rankin, and Abubakar Salim.
Season 3 new cast: Tommy Flanagan as Lord Roderick Dustin and Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly. Previously announced new season three cast includes James Norton as Ormund Hightower.
Season 3 directors: Clare Kilner, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Andrij Parekh, and Loni Peristere.
Season 3 credits: Co-Creator/Showrunner/Executive Producer, Ryan Condal; Co-Creator/Executive Producer, George R.R. Martin; Executive Producers Sara Hess, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Vince Gerardis, David Hancock, Philippa Goslett. Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.”
House of the Dragon season 3 will be available to watch on HBO Max in the UK & Ireland from June. Watch the season three trailer on YouTube.
Notes to editors
Creative Wales works to drive growth and promote success across Wales’ thriving creative industries. As part of the Welsh Government, our remit includes supporting the Screen sector (Film and TV productions, including post-production and animated content).
Since launching in 2020, Creative Wales has been supporting home-grown indies to develop high quality content and has attracted investment from the world’s most notable production companies and streaming services including HBO, Netflix and Amazon, positioning Wales as a world-class filming destination.
The screen sector plays a major role in the Welsh economy and is a key employer. The latest industry research data (2024*) reports that Film and TV production achieved £568m turnover in 2024 and is home to 695 companies that create significant freelance and trainee opportunities for our workforce. The number of companies operating in Wales has increased by almost 20% since 2019, reflecting sustained growth across this sector. Creative Wales has invested in 72 projects through Production Funding alone, generating almost half a billion pounds in economic return to the nation, and these numbers continue to grow.
In addition to our offer of bespoke funding support and advice, Wales boasts stunning, diverse locations, as well as world-class studio facilities, post-production and a talented crew base. Notable made in Wales productions include House of the Dragon (HBO), Industry (BBC|HBO), His Dark Materials (BBC|HBO), Mr Burton (Icon) and H is for Hawk (Lionsgate).
We are passionate about ensuring the long-term success of the Film and TV industry , and work closely with productions to create apprenticeships, trainee placements and up-skilling opportunities throughout people’s careers, while promoting best practice around wellbeing, sustainability and inclusivity.
The screen sector in Wales has a higher proportion of people with disabilities in its workforce than the Welsh and UK averages.
To find out more about Production Funding and our Wales Screen service, visit creative.wales. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn. Watch our showreel here.
*Data source: Creative Wales Business and Labour Market Statistics 2024