When the “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon” returns it is expected to be a less common cold. HBO has given the hit series a shortened 8-episode run for its upcoming second season, TheWrap has confirmed.
The decision to shorten the show’s second season comes amid months of belt-tightening measures at HBO’s parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. However, people with knowledge of the matter say that the move is only due to the needs of the story being told and not for any other concern.
HBO had no comment, but by deadlineWho first reported the short season is part of a longer plan that includes the possibility of an early Season 3 renewal.
HBO Max announced a round of show cancellations and delistings in late 2022, cuts that came just months after a similar round shocked viewers in August. ,house of the dragonHowever, there was a very successful premiere around that time, which helped to offset the loss.
After the first season of “House of the Dragon” ended, overall demand for HBO Max shows dropped nearly 4% compared to July, according to data from Parrot Analytics. According to Nielsen, the show was a huge hit for HBO and HBO Max, with the finale being streamed for a total of over 1 billion minutes.