It appears that all is not well in Westeros. Executive producer Jocelyn Diaz is leaving theHouse of The Dragonproduction team after just one season. According to reports, she had a one-year deal with an option for a second, which she chose to not pick up.
Diaz' exit fromHouse of the Dragonwas announced just a few weeks after co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik decided to step down from his role ahead of season 2. Co-creator and executive producer Ryan Condal will now be the sole showrunner for season 2, working closely with co-creator andexecutive producer George R.R. Martin.
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PerDeadline, Diaz' departure was a recent decision, as at the time of Sapochnik’s departure it was expected that Diaz would work alongside Sarah Hess (Orange Is the New Black) as an executive producer for season 2. For now, it appears that Hess will stay on board. Diaz and Sapochnik join producer Ron Schmidt, who left during the production of the first season. To replace the trio, Condal and Martin added Alan Taylor to their team, a veteran producer who directed episodes of theoriginalGame of Thronesseries. He will joinHouse of the Dragonas a director and executive producer.
Before working onHouse of The Dragon, Diaz worked on a number of documentary movies and TV series, includingSerena,America Divided, andElection Day: Lens Across America. She also worked as the Vice President of HBO from 2009-2011. Diaz has not made any public comments about her departure yet, andSapochnik leftHouse of the Dragonon amiable terms with his fellow producers. When asked about the departure, Sapochnik said it was the right choice for him “personally and professionally.” He also added that he “wish[es] Ryan and his team all the best with Season 2 and beyond.”
Fans of the series can rest easy knowing that despite these exits, the direction of the show is unlikely to change much. Diaz was a non-writing producer on the show and Sapochnik is most well known for producing themassive battles onGame of Thronesseasons 5 and 6. He was not involved in the writing process.
With legendary writer Martin still producing, the quality of the storyline is likely to remain unchanged. There may be some changes to the special effects and battle choreography, but that remains to be seen. Regardless, fans should be excited to see whatHouse of the Dragonseason 2 has to offer.
House of the Dragonairs on Sunday at 9:00 pm EST on HBO and HBO Max.
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