‘House of the Dragon’ defies industry strikes to launch season 2

“It was rough. It felt real s--tty,” admits Sara Hess on navigating the production through global strikes.

As the eagerly awaited Season 2 of "House of the Dragon" approaches its premiere, the team behind this popular "Game of Thrones" prequel has faced more than its share of adversity.

During the initial stages of production, the entertainment industry was hit by major strikes from the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild, which brought many projects to a halt. 

However, the "House of the Dragon" crew, based primarily in London's Leavesden Studios and not directly impacted by the U.S. strikes due to their contracts with the U.K.'s Equity, managed to keep the wheels turning.

"It was rough. It felt real s--tty, I'm not going to lie," Sara Hess, the show's lead writer, shared with Entertainment Weekly. 

Despite the challenging circumstances, the writing team was able to stay on course, with the Writers Guild of America allowing Hess and her partner, showrunner Ryan Condal, to continue in a producing capacity. 

"We were prepared for it," Condal explained. "The writing really was done. You cannot prep a show that is this complex [otherwise]." 

The show's elaborate production schedule involves shooting two feature-size film units daily, necessitating that scripts be finalized well in advance. 

The strikes also presented personal challenges for Hess, who found herself oscillating between picket lines in Los Angeles and production meetings in London. "I was on the picket line [in Los Angeles], and then I go back [to London] and we're allowed to work as producers. It didn't feel great," she admitted. 

The solidarity felt by many of the show's SAG-affiliated actors added another layer of complexity. Despite their personal conflicts, SAG-AFTRA ultimately urged the stars to fulfill their obligations under the show's Equity contract. 

"We had this very, very surreal experience of everything was in flames and everyone was breaking down, and over in England it was just kind of normal," Hess reflects on the contrasting situations.

Despite these hurdles, "House of the Dragon" is on track for its June 16 premiere on HBO and Max.