Why Corlys Velaryon Is Black (& No It’s Not A Problem)
Corlys Velaryon is Black in House of the Dragon, a fact that has caused some unfortunate responses but is actually good for the show and makes sense to boot. House of the Dragon is a Game of Thrones prequel, but it’s going to be a very different show in a lot of ways. That certainly goes for its timeline, which begins roughly 200 years prior the story of Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and all the rest. But it will be true in myriad other ways, from its Targaryen-centric civil war plot and dragon vs. dragon warfare, to how the story is told, what it’s adapting (an in-universe history book rather than a novel series), and the people tasked with bringing the show to life.
For one, House of the Dragon has been co-created by George R.R. Martin, alongside Ryan Condal (who is co-showrunner with veteran Game of Thrones director Miguel Sapochnik. Martin has greater oversight and influence than he did on most of Thrones, which itself should help the show succeed. There’s also an enviable array of talent in front of the camera, including Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen, and Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon.
Related: Where Every Game Of Thrones Family Is During House Of The Dragon
It’s the latter of those that has sadly caused a mixture of confusion and consternation, since it means Corlys Velaryon is Black. There are, inevitably, qualms about things like “book authenticity,” though much of the backlash stems from a far less genuine (and rather more racist) place. There should be no arguing with the showrunners deciding Corlys is Black, but exploring the decision further shows that it does
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