House of the Dragon Season 3: Emma D'Arcy flags off Day 1 of shoot; Tommy Flanagan and Dan Fogler join cast

It's finally time to return to Westeros as House of the Dragon has officially begun filming for its third season. HBO confirmed that production is underway in the United Kingdom, setting the ball rolling for the next chapter in the Targaryen civil war - the Dance of the Dragons.Emma D’Arcy, aka Rhaenyra Targaryen, stepped up in full costume and a clapper board in hand to officially flag off Day 1 of the shoot. D'Arcy will return with Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, and Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon. The upcoming season will also introduce new characters, with Tommy Flanagan joining as Ser Roderick Dustin and Fantastic Beasts actor Dan Fogler cast as Ser Torrhen Manderly. James Norton, previously announced, will portray Ormund Hightower, adding another key player to the political landscape.According to reports, Season 3 will follow the format of the previous season, running for eight episodes, though an official release date for the series is still awaited.Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the Game of Thrones prequel is set nearly 200 years before the events of the original series, chronicling the downfall of House Targaryen. Following the events of Season 2, fans can expect to see more bloody battle scenes on land, in air and at sea as the Blacks take on the Greens. Going by recent hints by the makers, Season 3 promises to be even more intense, beginning with the highly anticipated Battle of the Gullet.