Six years on from her demise, Daenerys Targaryen continues to shapeGame of Thrones' future.Daenerys burning King’s Landingwas a moment that turned the already rumbling season 8 backlash up to a whole other level. Still, that response hasn’t deterred HBO from turningThronesinto a true franchise, with multiple spinoffs in various stages of development, and Dany, in a way, remains at the heart of it all.
It’s true that Daenerys’Game of Thronesendingwas ultimately a tragic one, as she was killed by Jon Snow in front of the Iron Throne. But that shouldn’t detract from her character arc - nor Emilia Clarke’s work as part ofGame of Thrones' cast- and that’s reflected in HBO’s plans for the franchise. Dany herself may never be coming back, but her legacy is being keenly felt.
Game Of Thrones' Spinoffs Are Obsessed With House Targaryen
There are severalGame of Thronesspinoffs in the works, and many of them are about House Targaryen. There is already, of course,House of the Dragon, which takes its name and story from the family’s rich history in Westeros. That show will return for two more seasons, with season 3 expected sometime in 2026. This year will add another to the mix thanks toA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which involves other notable members of House Targaryen, set around 90 years beforeGame of Thrones.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsdoes not yet have a release date, but is expected in late-2025.
Still, there will be more. AnAegon’s Conquest show, telling the story of how the Targaryens took over Westeros, is also in development. And, if that weren’t enough, HBO’s Head of Drama Series and Films, Francesca Orsi, teased another, tellingDeadline:
“We have other spinoffs that we’re working on right now,one of which - which I won’t get into - is very promising, and it is still the Targaryen line."
That suggests it’s another Targaryen spinoff, separate from Aegon’s Conquest. There are certainly plenty of options - George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook covers part of their history in Westeros, and there are more stories besides. It could be the Blackfyre Rebellions (a series of uprisings by legitimized Targaryen bastards), or about the succession of Aegon the Conqueror and his sons, or even the Targs before they came to Westeros, centering on the Doom of Valyria. Whatever it may be, though, it connects to Daenerys.
Game Of Thrones' Future Is Daenerys' Legacy & Proves Her Ending Didn’t Ruin It
Dany has long been the show’s most defining character. After all, more parents were naming their kids Khaleesi than they were calling them Jon Snow; people are more likely to cosplay as her than anyone else. If you said the name Daenerys to someone who hasn’t watched the show, they’d probably still have at leastsomeidea of who you meant.Her Valyrian looks and dragons were some of the show’s most important and recognizable elementsin terms of iconography and marketing, and that’s what HBO is capitalizing on.
Game of Thrones’spinoffsfocusing on House Targaryen is, in a very large part, directly because of Daenerys. She is the major reason why so many viewers are invested in them, giving substance to go with the spectacle of the dragons, and a huge reason for its enduring popularity. The Targaryens dominated Westeros history, so it’s fair to say that spinoffs would’ve included them regardless, but would they be shaping the entire franchise in this way without Dany? I don’t think so.
Daenerys Targaryen’s Origin, Backstory & Life Before Game Of Thrones Explained (& What The Show Cut)
Daenerys Targaryen is one of the most iconic Game of Thrones characters. Here’s what we know about her early life before the show begins.
Hell,Daenerys is, so far, one of the onlyGame of Thronescharacters to show-up in another spinoff, appearing inDaemon Targaryen’s vision inHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 finale(the other was the Three-Eyed Raven, albeit unrecognizable fromThrones). The prequel even started by using Dany’s birth as a reference point for its timeline. She was, and remains, crucial to the whole franchise, and her controversial death cannot take that away.
Could Daenerys Herself Ever Return In A Game Of Thrones Spinoff?
AlthoughDaenerys made a cameo inHouse of the Dragon, it’s unlikely her future could ever go beyond that. It’s plausible similar appearances could be used in other visions - such as in the Aegon’s Conquest show, to connect everything together - but it would risk dulling the effect. Or, if HBO were to ever make a spinoff about Robert’s Rebellion then, in theory, Daenerys' birth could be shown to further set up the main show.
Status
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
An adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s The Tales of Dunk & Egg novellas
Season 1 releasing in 2025 on HBO and Max
House of the Dragon
Ongoing Game of Thrones prequel, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war, the Dance of the Dragons
Season 3 expected in 2026; season 4 will be the last
Aegon’s Conquest
The story of King Aegon I Targaryen and the conquest of Westeros with his sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya
In-development
10,000 Ships
A spinoff about Princess Nymeria, who led her people the Rhoynar to Dorne after a war with the Valyrian Freehold
Nine Voyages
An animated show about Corlys Velaryon’s Great Voyages, where he sailed around the Known World
The Golden Empire(unofficial)
An animated show set in empire of Yi Ti, which is in the far East of Essos
Another live-action Game of Thrones spinoff
Another animated Game of Thrones spinoff
A Game of Thrones movie
In terms of a proper return, though, that’s near impossible to pull-off. The only way to do so would be to confirm the theory that Drogon took Daenerys' body to a Red Priestess to be resurrected, which would allow her to come back in a big way. I’d never say never to that, because so many wild things have happened with franchise/IP returns, remakes, and so on in recent years, but it’s certainly not likely (nor do I think it’d be a great idea). However, Daenerys doesn’t need to return for her legacy to continue definingGame of Thrones.
