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When HBO’sHouse of the Dragonpremiered, one of the most controversial casting decisions was the choice of Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen. Alongside fans of George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood,even critics were skeptical that theDoctor Whostar could bring the necessary depth and complexity to the role of the rogue prince.
However, despite the massive backlash that started after Matt Smith’s casting, showrunner Ryan Condal and casting director Kate Rhodes James took a gamble on Smith’s abilities. Eventually, it paid off wonderfully, whenThe Crownveteran proved the critics wrong in his portrayal of the Daemon.
The Complicated Casting of Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
When casting director Kate Rhodes James was hiring actors forRyan Condal’sGame of Thronesprequel seriesHouse of the Dragon, she went through stages of difficulties in finding suitable actors for the roles. From struggling to cast child actors to trying to hire stars based on the family trees of the renowned Targaryens and Velaryons, James narrated her journey toIndieWire.
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Nonetheless, the hardest part of the process was finding someone to bring to life the iconoclastic, dragon-collecting character, Daemon Targaryen. ConsideringGeorge R.R. Martin‘s depiction of the character as a complicated man who is a monster or a hero depending on who you ask, Kate Rhodes James noted struggling to find someone who would bring the level of nuance and depth to the role.
Everyone has an image in their head that they struggle to articulate [of Daemon]. I need to know what’s in his heart… We needed somebody that wasn’t obvious. It’s people who [when they] lean in, you lean back. If someone leans back, you go, oh. And that’s what Matt [Smith] does beautifully,
Recalling the difficult casting of Daemon Targaryen, Kate Rhodes James breathed a sigh of relief upon finding theDoctor Whoactor Matt Smith. The casting director admitted liking the star because of the way he brought unpredictability to the character. Instead of pinning Daemon down as any one thing: good or bad, hero or villain, James noted how Smith remained true to the complexity of the character.
Matt Smith Proved Critics Wrong with HisHouse of the DragonRole
However, despite Kate Rhodes James and showrunner Ryan Condal betting onMatt Smith, the actor’s casting was plagued with criticism and backlash. During production and ahead of the release ofHouse of the Dragon, fans and critics expressed their skepticism towards Smith’s casting as the notorious Daemon Targaryen.
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As perScreenRant, one of the main reasons that led to initial doubts in fans’ minds, was Matt Smith’sprevious role asDoctor Who. Given that his take on the character was childlike, and filled with wonder, it naturally didn’t make him an obvious choice to play theHouse of the Dragoncharacter, who was an arrogant, ambitious, powerful, and bad-tempered man.
Additionally, anothermain concern about Matt Smith’s castingwas attributed to his physical appearance. Since the actor has natural black/brown hair, fans were concerned that he wouldn’t fit the traditional Targaryen mold. However, costume designers did an excellent job of transforming Smith into the silver-haired prince, and his performance has more than made up for any initial doubts.
Eventually, Kate Rhodes James and Ryan Condal’s gamble on Matt Smith paid off wonderfully when the actor did a phenomenal job of capturing the character’s arrogance, ambition, and darker impulses. Approaching with an open mind, Smith understood the character’s motivations like none, which later allowed him to bring a level of authenticity to the role, making Daemon both captivating and terrifying to watch.
Despite initial reservations, Matt Smith’s casting has proven to be a masterstroke andHouse of the Dragon‘s creators have shown that sometimes unexpected choices can lead to the most remarkable outcomes.
House of the Dragonis available on Max.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3218
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
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George R.R. MartinMatt SmithRyan Condal
