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Who is Cregan Stark on 'House of the Dragon' season 2?

House Stark in Game of Thrones
(Image credit: HBO)

So far, much of the action in the "Game of Thrones" prequel series "House of the Dragon" has revolved around the Targaryen clan, as siblings Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) fight it out in a fiery battle over their late father's throne. (You can choose which side you're rooting for with these cool dueling trailers.) 

But "House of the Dragon" season 2 will feature another Westeros family that will be familiar to anyone who watched the original HBO series: the Starks.

Back in December 2023, Entertainment Weekly confirmed that "The Dark Tower" actor Tom Taylor will be taking on the role of Cregan Stark, who is the current Lord of Winterfell during the "House of the Dragon" timeline, which is set nearly 200 years before the events of the flagship show. That basically makes him the O.G. Ned Stark — he's the "GOT" character's great-great-great-great grandfather. 

Like Daeron Targaryen's character, TV fans might not be as familiar with Cregan Stark as readers of "Fire & Blood" are: in the George R. R. Martin book on which "House of the Dragon" is based, Cregan and the rest of the North will lend support to Rhaenyra's cause during Dance of the Dragons. However, as EW points out, Martin's book purposely leaves out exactly what transpired between Jacaerys, Cregan and the rest of the Winterfell folk, so that might be something delved into more deeply when season two comes around. 

Speaking of, "House of the Dragon" season 2 is set to return on Sunday, June 16 on HBO and Max — thankfully, that's a lot earlier than we initially thought — with eight new hourlong episodes packed with plenty of family drama and fire-breathing dragons. While you wait to see exactly how Lord Cregan Stark plays into all of that Targaryen business, you can revisit all episodes of "HOTD" season 1 with a Max subscription. And make sure to bookmark Tom's Guide for all new intel and updates on the second season of "House of the Dragon." 

Christina Izzo is a writer-editor covering culture, food and drink, travel and general lifestyle in New York City. She was previously the Deputy Editor at My Imperfect Life, the Features Editor at Rachael Ray In Season and Reveal, as well as the Food & Drink Editor and chief restaurant critic at Time Out New York.