A new Game of Thrones prequel series called House of the Dragon is officially on its way!

HBO has ordered 10 episodes of the prequel, which is set 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones and follows the story of House Targaryen. It's been co-created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, who previously co-created the sci-fi series Colony.

Miguel Sapochnik, who won an Emmy for his directing work on Game of Thrones, will direct the pilot episode and several others in the series. “The Game of Thrones universe is so rich with stories," HBO's programming president Casey Bloys said in a statement. "We look forward to exploring the origins of House Targaryen and the earlier days of Westeros along with Miguel, Ryan, and George."

The announcement arrives hot on the heels of a report that another Game of Thrones prequel series starring Naomi Watts has been shelved by HBO. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this prequel's co-creator and would-be-showrunner Jane Goldman has emailed Watts and co-stars including Harry Potter's Miranda Richardson and Twilight's Jamie Campbell Bower to inform them that HBO will not be moving forward with the series.

A pilot for Goldman's unnamed prequel was shot over the summer. It was said to take place during the so-called "Age of Heroes," thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, and HBO's logline teased: "Only one thing is for sure: From the horrifying secrets of Westeros' history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend — it's not the story we think we know."

Are you excited for House of the Dragon?