Steven Toussaint, acclaimed for his compelling role in “House of the Dragon,” is entering the second season of the “Game of Thrones” prequel series on a high note, buoyed by widespread acclaim for his performance.
Toussaint’s experience contrasts sharply with the rocky start to Season 1, which was clouded by racist backlash to his casting. The initial negativity, which emerged when his casting was first announced in 2022, has since been overshadowed by a flood of positive responses from viewers who appreciate the diverse representation he brings to the screen.
“I can’t tell you the amount of people – and not just people of color – who have contacted me through social media or through letters to express their satisfaction with this representation in this world,” Toussaint shared during a “House of the Dragon” press conference on Monday.
In the HBO series, Toussaint portrays Lord Corlys Velaryon, the esteemed leader of House Velaryon of Driftmark. The series is based on George R.R. Martin’s book “The Targaryen Dynasty: The House of the Dragon.” Notably, while the book depicts members of House Velaryon as White, the series chose to cast Black actors in these roles, a decision that ignited heated and often racist debates among some fans of the original material. Toussaint previously revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he faced racial abuse on social media following his casting.
Showrunner Ryan Condal acknowledged in a 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly that part of the motivation for casting more people of color in “House of the Dragon” stemmed from criticism aimed at “Game of Thrones” for its lack of diversity. Condal emphasized the importance of reflecting a more inclusive world, saying, “The world is very different now than it was 10 years ago when [‘Game of Thrones’] all started. It was important to create a show that was not another bunch of White people on the screen, just to put it very bluntly.”
Echoing this sentiment, Toussaint remarked at the recent press conference, “We are living in a world in which everybody’s here, and I think everybody has a right to be represented… There are voices out there that would argue against that, but I think those of us who want to see that world, I think history is on our side.”
Set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” “House of the Dragon” chronicles the saga of House Targaryen and the epic civil war that ensues. The series features a star-studded cast including Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Eve Best, Bethany Antonia, and Fabien Frankel.
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 is set to premiere on Max on June 16.
