In collaboration with HBO and OSN+, the promotional campaign for the series "House of The Dragon" sets the Alula site alight with spectacular animations, including a gigantic Balerion dragon skull.
In the run-up to the series premiere, OSN+ activated “House of the Dragon” in several Middle Eastern destinations to entertain and excite fans across the region. The celebrations kicked off with an exclusive screening of the first episode on August 16 at Theatre of Digital Art from Dubai, followed by an immersive show of 1 drones that lit up the sky above Riyadh City Boulevard during Gamers000, the world's largest gaming and eSports festival, on August 8.
Later, a huge 5-meter long and 3-meter high Dragon skull was unveiled on the shores of the coastal town of El Alamein at one of Egypt's popular venues, Marassi Beach Clubhouse, on August 18 for three days, giving fans and visitors the opportunity to connect and engage with the must-see world series before its premiere date.
The epic fantasy drama House of the Dragon, the prequel to HBO's Game of Thrones, then headed to the landscapes of the 2000-year-old Nabataean tombs of Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, as part of a promotional campaign to launch the series, which aired on OSN+ in the region and around the world.
The celebrations continued on August 22 in AlUla, in northwest Saudi Arabia, an area of unspoiled wilderness, outstanding natural beauty, and cultural significance, home to some of the world's most spectacular sites. AlUla's iconic natural rock formation, Elephant Rock, was adorned with the symbol of the House of the Dragon. This stunning projection was accompanied by a gigantic Balerion dragon skull, which can be seen in the Diwan of Jabal Ithlib, one of Hegra's most fascinating sites, and in the breathtaking landscape of Wadi Al Fann.
These striking achievements will continue throughout the series with more dragon action to be seen around AlUla's natural and man-made monuments. The OSN+ animations were created by producer and director Tom Jauncey, of creative content studio Beautiful Destinations, to strike a chord with die-hard fans while also encouraging newcomers to discover the series before the trip to House of the Dragon. The clip – released on social media – was filmed at the archaeological site. The CGI features Daemon Targaryen's dragon, Vhagar, wreaking havoc with its flames.
« OSN+'s ongoing mission is to bring the world's best content to our customers' screens in the Middle East. " said Joe Kawkabani, CEO of OSN Group. Alongside creating engaging and immersive experiences, OSN+ has once again delivered on this promise with the launch of HBO's prequel to one of the most popular fantasy series of all time, Game of Thrones."
Ashley Rite, Vice President of Marketing and Growth at OSN+, said of the campaign: “ With its historical and archaeological significance in the region, as well as its rock formations in the Saudi Arabian desert, AlUla was undoubtedly an ideal location for OSN+ to activate one of the biggest TV premieres, House of the Dragon, le prequel to HBO's Game of Thrones, both globally and regionally. We are pleased to have collaborated with the Royal Commission for AlUla on such an immersive activation and experiential campaign."
Phillip Jones, Chief Destination Management and Marketing Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) added: “ With otherworldly landscapes and ancient sites built by civilizations dating back 7000 years, AlUla is the perfect place to brand itself as the home of dragons. With such a rich history and as a crossroads of civilizations, AlUla has its own myths, legends, and stories to tell, and we are thrilled to lend our destination to the HBO and OSN teams and be part of the Game of Thrones phenomenon. ».
All ten episodes of the HBO original drama series will air exclusively on OSN+ in the region. Based on the book "Fire & Blood" by George R.R. Martin, the series, set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, tells the story of House Targaryen.
The cast of the upcoming series includes Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen; Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, the King's younger brother and heir to the throne; Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, the Hand of the King's daughter; Emma D'Arcy as King Viserys's firstborn, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen; Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon "The Sea Serpent"; Eve Best as his wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen; Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole; Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria; and Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King and Alicent's father.
Saudi Arabia is offering a 40% cash rebate to international and local feature films, television series, and documentaries planning to shoot in the Kingdom. Film AlUla, the film agency of the Royal Commission for AlUla, established to promote and support international film and television production in AlUla County, has supported the activities by conducting location scouting and issuing permits.
Ema Lynnx
