James Norton Kneels to Daemon in Leaked ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Set Scene

by

Actor James Norton has now become part of the cast of ‘House of the Dragon‘, as reported by Splash News. They spotted him on set, shooting an intense scene alongside Matt Smith for the very first time.

In the series “Fire & Blood” by George R.R. Martin, Norton is portraying Lord Ormund Hightower, a significant character known for his power. Eagle-eyed fans noticed him in full medieval attire, yielding his sword and kneeling before Smith’s Daemon Targaryen.

James Norton has made his debut in the blazing realm of Westeros ⚔️🐉

For the first time on set, Norton was captured filming a tense and passionate scene with Matt Smith for ‘House of the Dragon’.

Norton’s character is Ormund Hightower, the powerful leader of House…

— Splash News (@SplashNews) July 18, 2025

At this crucial juncture, Norton’s persona might undergo a significant shift. Lord Ormund Hightower, however, is no ordinary nobleman. He is, in fact, the chief of House Hightower and the nephew of Otto Hightower, who once held the position of the King’s Hand. In the novels, it is Ormund who commands the army of the Reach during the Targaryen conflict, aligning himself with King Aegon II’s faction, commonly referred to as the ‘greens.’

Although he boasts an immense army consisting of countless knights and foot soldiers, it’s important to note that not everyone in the Reach is on his side. He endures continuous assaults from adversaries such as Alan Tarly and Owen Costayne, compelling him to hold back and await reinforcements from King’s Landing.

Back in January 2025, it was announced that James Norton would be joining the cast for season 3 of the show. At the same time, HBO also introduced some new actors to the series. In March, Tommy Flanagan and Dan Fogler were added as Lord Roderick Dustin and Ser Torrhen Manderly respectively. Later in April, HBO officially confirmed Tom Cullen, Joplin Sibtain, and Barry Sloane for their roles as Ser Luthor Largent, Ser Jon Roxton, and Ser Adrian Redfort.

As of now, the filming for Season 3 continues unabated since March 2025 at Leavesden Studios in England. The production is estimated to conclude by October, although HBO hasn’t disclosed a specific release date as yet. However, with George R.R. Martin’s source material serving as the basis, viewers can anticipate lots of exciting events to unfold.

The second season concluded with tensions escalating towards an imminent conflict between Teams Black and Green. At present, Rhaenyra appears to hold the advantage, significantly boosted by Daemon’s allegiance to her. As announced by showrunner Ryan Condal, the third season will commence with a large-scale battle.

Francesca Orsi, who heads drama at HBO, shared with Deadline that she’s thrilled and believes viewers will be pleasantly surprised by an engaging opening battle for the upcoming season, which is anticipated to be The Battle of the Gullet – a significant conflict within the Dance of the Dragons storyline.

Ryan Condal hinted during the Happy Sad Confused podcast that season 3 will introduce something fresh and unique. He shared, “We’ve had some fun this season, and there’s an episode conceptualized by Sara Hess that I’m genuinely thrilled about. I can’t reveal much, but it strays from our usual storyline format. It’s deeply character-focused, and I believe it will be fantastic – I can’t wait to see it brought to life.

Emma D’Arcy, who portrays Rhaenyra, expressed a desire for something new in the podcast as well. In a humorous manner, she stated, “I’ve started a petition to get a weapon. It’s becoming quite absurd. I don’t mind if it’s a small dagger or short sword. Frankly, I could care less. The men on the show don’t need to worry about where they place their hands because they’re always gripping the hilt of their sword. Now, you can interpret that as innuendo if you wish, but that’s the truth. And the rest of us are asking, ‘Where do we put our hands?’ Next year, at least one hand will be taken care of. That’s what I want.

Fans can anticipate additional conflicts, deceptions, and fire-breathing creatures in season 3. George R.R. Martin hinted that there may be significant deviations from the books. In a now-removed blog post, he warned, “If House of the Dragon proceeds with some of the changes under consideration for seasons 3 and 4, there will be bigger and more venomous butterflies to contend with.

The story won’t conclude after Season 3; instead, it will end with Season 4 as HBO has announced. In the meantime, viewers can anticipate two more seasons filled with war, politics, and dragonfire. For now, the sight of James Norton kneeling before Daemon Targaryen leaves fans with a strong hint: Westeros is about to experience renewed tension.

Read More

2025-07-18 19:15