Emilia Clarke may have risen to global fame as one of Game of Thrones’ fan favourites, but she has no plans to watch the prequel series House of the Dragon.
From 2011 until 2019, the actor played Daenerys Targaryen on the epic fantasy series Game of Thrones, leading viewers on a harrowing journey as she attempted to capture the Iron Throne in King’s Landing as her own.
Daenerys’ journey came to an end in season 8, when she was stabbed to death by her lover (and nephew) Jon Snow in scenes that have been harshly criticised by many GOT fans (Kit Harington).
House of the Dragon launched last year, detailing the chronicle of House Targaryen 172 years before Daenerys’ birth.
The programme has won critical acclaim and honours, including a Golden Globe for Best Drama Television Series, but Emilia believes it would be ‘too odd’ for her to join on the bandwagon.
‘I just can’t do it,’ she told Variety, during an appearance at Sundance Film Festival.
When asked about watching HOTD, Emilia responded: ‘No! Can you [forgive me]?’
She continued: ‘It’s too weird. I’m so happy it’s happening. I’m over the moon about all the awards… I just can’t do it. It’s so weird. It’s so strange.
‘It’s kind of like someone saying, “You want to go to this school reunion that’s not your year? Want to go to that school reunion?” That’s how it feels. I’m avoiding it.’
While it appeared that Daenerys’ tale was over at the end of Game of Thrones, some fans have speculated that the character could make a big comeback.
Viewers watched as Dany was carried away by her dragon Drogon, with some believing that she may have been resurrected elsewhere.
With the Jon Snow sequel series now in the works, could Daenerys’ resurrection on TV become a reality? All we can do is wait and see.
Speaking about where Jon’s story could take him next, Kit recently said: ‘So I think where we leave him at the end of the show, there’s always this feeling of like… I think we wanted some kind of little smile that things are OK. He’s not OK. I think if you asked him, he would’ve felt he got off lightly.
The 36-year-old added: ‘At the end of the show, when we find him in that cell, he’s preparing to be beheaded, and he wants to be. He’s done. The fact he goes to the Wall is the greatest gift and also the greatest curse.’
House of the Dragon is available to watch on Sky and NOW.