House of the Dragon fans’ Henry Cavill casting wish can no longer come true, but there’s one Game of Thrones character the actor remains perfect for.
Henry Cavill’s most frequent House of the Dragon fancasting definitely won’t happen, but that could allow the actor to take on a role in a different Game of Thrones prequel. As a major British actor who is no stranger to the fantasy genre, it’s no surprise Cavill has been linked to several roles in the Game of Thrones franchise. That certainly picked up after House of the Dragon season 1’s ending, with the promise of new characters, with one in particular Cavill was deemed suitable for: Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell.
House of the Dragon season 2 heading to Winterfell was set up in season 1. Rhaenyra Targaryen sent her eldest son, Jacaerys Velaryon, to meet with Lord Cregan and try to win his support for the blacks. Cavill was a popular fancast for the new Stark, which speaks to his stature as an actor and the rapid success of the show itself. Cavill even responded to a possible House of the Dragon casting, saying that while “it would be cool to be in Westeros,” he didn’t think there was a place for him in the prequel. As it turns out, he was right.
Henry Cavill Won’t Be House Of The Dragon’s Cregan Stark (& That’s Good)
Lord Cregan Stark has been cast for season 2.
Among the new additions to House of the Dragon season 2’s cast is Tom Taylor, who takes on the role of Cregan Stark that Cavill had been linked to. Taylor isn’t as much of a household name as Cavill, of course, but has had a main TV role in UK drama Doctor Foster, and also appeared in 2017’s The Dark Tower. It’s unknown just how much Taylor will appear in House of the Dragon but, give Jace is en route to Winterfell (via the Vale), it’s likely he’ll appear early in season 2 when it arrives on HBO and Max in Summer 2024.
Taylor makes far more sense for Cregan than casting Cavill. For starters, Rhaenyra already said Cregan is closer to Jacaerys’ age than hers. Given Jace is still a teenager in House of the Dragon, then casting the 40-year-old Cavill would have been a strange choice (Taylor is only 22). Similarly, Taylor is a lesser-known name who can grow into the role without any preconceived notions or expectations, and that better fits the fact Cregan won’t be a main character in the show. Having Cavill appear in just an episode of two, and then turn up again a season or two later, would be a waste of the actor and risk being a distraction.
Henry Cavill Could (& Should) Still Play Aegon The Conqueror
Cavill would be the ultimate Targaryen King.
Another Game of Thrones character that Cavill has been fancast as is Aegon the Conqueror, and he’s a much better fit for the actor than Cregan Stark. Age could still be a factor, as Aegon was only around 25-years-old when he started his conquest of Westeros. However, HBO could easily age the character up (as opposed to Cregan, where the TV show directly addresses his age), allowing Cavill to take on the part and without taking anything away from the story. With an Aegon the Conqueror prequel reportedly in development at HBO, there’s still a possibility of Cavill landing the role.
Cavill’s time as Geralt in The Witcher is clear evidence of his credentials. There, he plays a skilled warrior who wields great power and, with it, commands respect and fear. That would certainly lend itself well to Aegon, and Cavill’s dramatic range would fit a character who is burdened by his A Song of Ice and Fire prophecy. Meanwhile, the actor’s charisma, charm, and underrated comic delivery would allow him to turn Aegon into an even more well-rounded character. Add in that this would be the lead role (and HBO’s plans reportedly include a movie, too), and it’s not only better than Cregan, but better than any role Cavill could’ve had in House of the Dragon.