"Game of Thrones" may have ended more than two years ago, but everyone knew HBO wasn't giving up on the franchise just yet. The first spinoff, "House of Dragons," is due out next year, and the first trailer has just been released by HBO Max.

The series takes place almost a century after House Targaryen conquered Westeros and 200 years before the heyday of "Game of Thrones." But this era is far from peaceful, and as ever, the Iron Throne is at the root of the conflict.

The trailer is narrated by Prince Daemon Targaryen, played by Doctor Who's Matt Smith, brother of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) and future husband of Princess Rainila (Emma Darcy), daughter of Viserys and heir to the Iron Throne.

The trailer does not reveal much about the series other than flashing images of the various characters who appear. However, it is clear that dragons will play an important role in the series.

In fact, George RR Martin confirmed on his podcast "The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of" that there are "17 dragons" in this period. They are, of course, dragons, but none can compare to Balerion, the black dread whose skull can be seen in this trailer.

The Iron Throne itself is also more faithfully recreated. While not as fearsome and monstrous as the one envisioned by George RR Martin, it is clearly closer to the book than the one known from "Game of Thrones."

Those who have read George RR Martin's "Fire and Blood," on which the series is based, will also know that the political gamesmanship and machinations of "Game of Thrones" will likely play a major role in "House of Dragons."

HBO will no doubt be looking to "Game of Thrones" because they want people to recognize the elements that made the early seasons of the show so popular.

"House of the Dragon" will debut on HBO sometime next year, but we don't know exactly when. But we hope we won't have to wait long and that this series will reinvigorate people's love for Westeros. Because it seems that the only people who want this show to happen now are HBO executives.