Game Of Thrones fans get an official glimpse at the prequel... which takes place 300 years before the original

Game Of Thrones fans are getting their first glimpse at the upcoming prequel series House Of The Dragon, which takes place 300 years before the main action of the HBO hit.

HBO released three official photos from the project online Wednesday, introducing audiences to the stars of the fantasy epic, which is inspired by author George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood saga.

In the photos The Crown’s Matt Smith and actress Emma D’Arcy appear as the royals Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Daemon Targaryen, seen with the same white-blonde locks Emilia Clarke‘s character Daenerys Targaryen wore in the original.

Origin story: Game Of Thrones fans got their first look at the upcoming prequel series House Of The Dragon, which tells the story of the House Of Targaryen. Actors Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith are seen as royals Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Daemon Targaryen above

The pair looked like they were in deep conversation while on a desolate beach.

D’Arcy was regal in a dark red jacket inset with black and gold brocade. Her hair was braided around the crown of her head while a soft ponytail fell down her front.

Matt looked nearly unrecognizable, donning a grey tunic with ornate buttons and a belt with his hair in a half-up, half-down style.

Olivia Cooke and Rhys Ifans were seen in another shot, donning dark green to represent their their lineage: House Hightower.

The pair play Alicent Hightower, King Viserys I Targaryen’s second wife, and Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King.

Outsiders: Olivia Cooke and Rhys Ifans were seen in another shot, donning dark green to represent their their lineage: House Hightower. The pair play Alicent Hightower, King Viserys I Targaryen’s second wife, and Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King

High seas: Steve Toussaint wore white dreadlocks and a sea-weathered stare while transforming into Lord Corlys Velaryon, also known as the Sea Snake. He will later become Hand to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen

Preparations: Other cast members were seen dressed in a similar ice-blonde wig to Matt and Emma, while they also wore a dark green ensemble

Busy schedule: A large group of cast and crew were seen filming on the beach in Cornwall

Steve Toussaint wore white dreadlocks and a sea-weathered stare while transforming into Lord Corlys Velaryon, also known as the Sea Snake.

As the series progresses, the master captain will become Hand to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen

Not featured in the photos were Paddy Considine, who plays the King, or castmates Fabien Frankel (knight Ser Criston Cole,) Eve Best (royal Rhaenys Velaryon) and Sonoya Mizuno (the beguiling dancer Mysaria.)

House Of The Dragon was created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, who also wrote the pilot script that earned the series a 10-episode production order.

Power struggle: House Of The Dragon will depict the war of succession between Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors Rhaenyra and Aegon II, two dragon-wielding heirs to the Iron Throne, in a civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. (Pictured left, Emilia Clarke and Harry Lloys as Daenerys and Viserys)

Miguel Sapochnik will join Condal as showrunner, as well as directing the pilot and additional episodes. Sapochnik is no stranger to the Reach, earning an Emmy for his work on the original Game Of Thrones.

The spin-off began shooting sometime last month, with the stars seen filming in rural Cornwall, England.

House Of The Dragon will depict the war of succession between Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors Rhaenyra and Aegon II, two dragon-wielding heirs to the Iron Throne, in a civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

Casting began last year, and the prequel is due to be released in spring 2022.