House of the Dragon Season 3 Premiere Is Longest Franchise Premiere

House of the Dragon's third-season premiere will run 72 minutes, making it the longest season opener in the Game of Thrones franchise. In the past 15 years no premiere across the three shows has exceeded 65 minutes. The episode, originally planned for Season 2 before the episode count was cut, centers on the Battle of the Gullet, the bloodiest naval battle in Westerosi history.

Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal said it would be "unlike anything that's ever been done in television before," and that the battle itself occupies about 25 minutes of the episode. Production details include 3,500 props, 25 tons of propane, 15,000 stunt crowds, and a new world record when 23 stunt performers were ignited in one take.

The Gullet represents a crucial turning point in the Dance of the Dragons, producing significant losses for both Team Black and Team Green and shifting the conflict's momentum.

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