Olivia Cooke has teased a devastating start to House of the Dragon Season 3, but Alicent Hightower still will not fulfill the actress's dream of riding a dragon. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Cooke said the new season begins as Westeros moves toward civil war. She described the opening episodes as intense while avoiding details that could reveal major developments in the HBO fantasy drama.
Olivia Cooke Says Season 3 Starts with Civil War
Speaking to Jimmy Fallon on NBC's The Tonight Show, Cooke confirmed there has been no progress on her hopes of getting a dragon-riding scene. I'm telling you, you got to ride a dragon, Fallon said. I'm trying. I'm trying, Cooke replied.
She acknowledged that such a moment would be difficult to fit into Alicent's story. I know. I know. Like narratively, we don't know how this fits, she said. Fallon agreed that it doesn't make any sense.
The conversation then turned to the war that Season 2 set up. Cooke said Season 3 picks up as the conflict begins and quickly turns grim. Some people said it's the craziest couple episodes on television, Fallon noted. It is a bit mad, Cooke responded. I can confirm. The first two episodes in particular are really quite mental. And we start off, you know, at the burgeoning of a civil war and it's really devastating what takes place.
Cooke stopped before revealing more, adding, I'm like, how can I say this without getting into trouble?
Olivia Cooke Discusses Returning as Alicent Hightower
Cooke also spoke about stepping back into character. What's it like getting back into character? Um, oddly like fine, she said. She explained that she finds it easier to access emotions while performing. I've been like, I've been dissecting this with my therapist because I'm, I find it easier to access emotions and, and things in character than I do. Not in real life.
She joked that those emotions are deep, deep, deep down and said she is learning to unpack them. Cooke added, Anything that Alicent goes through, I'm just like, chill. You're good at it. Season 3 will continue the conflict between the rival factions.
In India, House of the Dragon Season 3 will begin streaming on JioHotstar on June 22, bringing the next chapter of the Targaryen civil war to viewers across the country.
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Sonal Khandelwal covers lifestyle and entertainment, writing in-depth features and engaging articles, conducting interviews, contributing food reviews, producing visual-led stories, and directing videos for the publication's digital platforms. Her work blends rigorous research with crisp, accessible storytelling that resonates with readers. She has also written for The Free Press Journal, BBC GoodHomes India, and WUWO Media London, and her short fiction has been published by Kingston University Press London.
