New Cast Member James Norton as Ormund Hightower: Will Season 3 Stick to the Books?

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The series “House of the Dragon” concluded Season 2 in August, marking its tightest connection yet to “Game of Thrones.” However, it seems that the third season of the struggle between the Greens and the Blacks won’t be aired until beyond the TV schedule for 2025 and into 2026. As we wait, exciting news surfaces about another actor joining the cast to portray a character from George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” book series.

Indeed, since Season 2 deviated significantly from George R.R. Martin’s original plot in the books, it’s uncertain that Daemon Targaryen’s storyline in House of the Dragon Season 3 will closely mirror what the author wrote. However, I’m quite optimistic with James Norton joining the cast as Ormund Hightower.

James Norton As Ormund Hightower

Previously seen in “The Nevers” on HBO, James Norton is now set to join the cast of “House of the Dragon” for its third season. In recent years, he has appeared in productions like “Bob Marley: One Love” and “Playing Nice”. According to Variety, his new role will be Ormund Hightower, a character mentioned in Season 2. Ormund is the nephew of Otto Hightower, a relative of Alicent, cousin to Gwayne, and currently leading the Hightower army against King’s Landing and Rhaenyra’s forces as Lord of Oldtown.

Essentially, though he may not be a rider for House of the Dragon or part of the Targaryen family lineage, his influence could potentially cause significant issues for the Black Queen as a prominent figure among the Greens. He might have made an unofficial appearance at the end of Season 2, hinted by the sighting of a Hightower army marching and the blue dragon belonging to Daeron Targaryen. As of now, neither Daeron nor Alicent’s youngest son (Viserys I) has appeared on screen yet. You can catch both seasons streaming with a Max subscription.

Why I Want To See George R.R. Martin’s Version Of Ormund Hightower

Light spoilers ahead for George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood.

The TV series “House of the Dragon” is derived from George R.R. Martin’s internal history book about the Targaryen dynasty titled “Fire & Blood.” Since the accounts in this book come from unreliable narrators, the show didn’t strictly adhere to a single storyline for its adaptation. As George R.R. Martin himself noted, there were substantial modifications between the book and the screenplay during Season 2 that could potentially reshape the series’ final outcome. Opinions vary regarding what deviations occurred from his original “Blood and Cheese” concept to what was portrayed on the show.

In essence, it’s uncertain if any characters from “Fire & Blood” will be easily identifiable in “House of the Dragon”. The way the show has portrayed Rhaenyra and Alicent’s relationship in Season 2 and the omission of Maelor as Aegon and Helaena’s youngest son has added a level of uncertainty. However, there’s still a glimmer of hope for Ormund Hightower, considering the final scene of Season 2 showcased the blue dragon Tessarion, which might be significant.

I’ll try not to reveal any spoilers about “Fire & Blood” for those who haven’t read it, but I’m optimistic about a faithful portrayal of Ormund in the series, as the Battle of the Honeywine is one of my favorite scenes. In this battle, the Hightower forces, under the leadership of Ormund, emerge victorious, although the triumph was more due to some spectacular dragon performances by Daeron and Tessarion rather than any heroics from Ormund himself.

Currently, I’m firmly on Team Black, but Ormund could prove to be an intriguing character for the Greens. Furthermore, considering how deep into the “Fire & Blood” timeline Season 3 might delve, Ormund could potentially participate in other notable battles. The upcoming series, “House of the Dragon,” won’t cover every battle from the book, but with another year likely until its release, it seems reasonable to keep a bit of optimism alive.

Regarding if the overall narrative of Season 3 will resemble “Fire & Blood” more, it seems unlikely that Daemon’s haunting storyline at Harrenhal will continue.

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2025-01-31 23:09