Filming for the long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon was hit with an unexpected delay on Wednesday when a member of the show’s crew became trapped.
The staff member had to be rescued after accidentally driving their car into the water, with staff frantically rushing to get a digger to help pull the vehicle to safety at the on the island of St Michael’s Mount.
It comes just hours after production for House of the Dragon kicked off in Cornwall, with stars Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy seen in character as Prince Daemon Targaryen and his wife Rhaenyra respectively at a separate location in Holywell Bay Beach 29 miles north of the island.
Dramatic: Filming for the long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon was hit with an unexpected delay on Wednesday when a member of the show’s crew became trapped
Crew for the big-budget production were seen rushing to the scene to help tow the car out of the small creek with a help of a digger.
The new staff member was reportedly supposed to be driving to the causeway but accidentally became trapped in the water on his way up to the mount.
It was a race against time as crew rushed to free the car with just 30 minutes before it was engulfed by the rising tide, though it appeared all staff made it out of the incident unharmed.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Warner Media for comment.
What’s going on? The staff member had to be rescued after accidentally driving their car into the water, with staff frantically rushing to get a digger to help pull the vehicle to safety at the site near St Michael’s Mount
Quick! Crew for the big-budget production were seen rushing to the scene as one staff member attempted to flee the fast-sinking vehicle
Accident: The new staff member was reportedly supposed to be driving to the causeway but accidentally became trapped in the water on his way up to the mount
There’s no time! It was a race against time as crew rushed to free the car with just 30 minutes before it was engulfed by the rising tide, though it appeared all staff made it out of the incident unharmed
Pull! Multiple members of the series’ crew enlisted the help of a digger to tow the car out of the creek after he accidentally drove the car into the water
The surprise incident came just hours after work got underway on the hotly-anticipated Game of Thrones prequel House Of The Dragon several miles away on Holywell Bay Beach.
Star Matt Smith, 38, was transformed into his character by sporting a long ice-blond wig while shooting scenes on the windy coast, confirming the south-west coast will be a key filming location.
Emma D’Arcy, 28, who will play Daemon’s wife and niece Rhaenyra Targaryen in the upcoming series, joined the former Doctor Who star, and they bore a striking resemblance to future family member Daenerys, played by Emilia Clarke, in a long crimson gown which split at the front and boasted a brighter scarlet material.
Safe and sound: Luckily the car was soon towed away from danger with everyone emerging from the incident unharmed
Close call: Multiple crew members have been spotted preparing the small Cornish island for filming for the long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel
What’s going on? Speculation had been rife that the show was being filmed on the south west coast after numberous historic sites were erected on the remote island
What’s that? Among them was a stone archway boasting an etching of a seahorse, eerily similr to the House of Velaryon that’s been so well-known by fans of the original show
Spitting image: The Cornish castle that sites looming over the island also bears a striking resemblance to Cersei’s King’s Landing stronghold
Matt added to Prince Daemon’s look with a long black jacket and knee-high boots for the shoot and appeared to be deep in conversation with Emma as they stood on the empty beach, their red and black ensembles represented the colours of House Targaryen.
His hair was partially pulled back, with the bottom half of his bright blonde tresses sitting down his neck and falling just on his shoulders.
Emma sported the same platinum blonde hair as her co-star – a key genetic trait in the Targaryen household – with her own tresses being partially styled into an impressive braid and fixed atop her head.
The actress looked remarkably similar to Emilia, who played Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, with the bold hairstyle only adding to the similarity between the two stars.
At one point during Tuesday’s shoot, Emma was seen headed towards the water following her discussing with Matt’s character of Prince Daemon.
FIRST LOOK: The surprise incident came just hours after work got underway on the hotly-anticipated Game of Thrones prequel House Of The Dragon several miles away on Holywell Bay Beach
In character: Both star Matt Smith, 38, and actress Emma D`Arcy, 28, sported platinum blonde locks as they walked along the windy coastline
Looking the part: Matt transformed into the character of Prince Daemon Targaryen, donning a long black jacket and knee-high boots and Emma wore a red gown, both of the colours represent House Targaryen
Over recent days, speculation has been rife that the prequel is being filmed in the southern county, after crews were spotted in different locations last week.
On Monday pictures emerged showing a film set had appeared on Holywell Bay beach, suggesting that it could be used in scenes featuring Matt and Emma.
And the medieval castle on St Michael’s Mount on Mount’s Bay in Cornwall where production is also said to be taking place bears a striking resemblance to the castle inhabited by Queen Cersei in the original HBO series, filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
The castle has a breathtaking view of the North Sea with much of the filming said to be taking place in the lower reaches of the mount within days.
Relatives: House of the Dragon will reportedly tell a story set 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and Emma (left) bore a a striking resemblance to Daenerys Targaryen (right, Emilia Clarke)
Stunning scenery: During the shoot, the two actors were seen talking on the golden sands and walking along the beach before Emma headed towards the water
It’s happening! Dozens of crew members were seen working on the set during Tuesday while Matt and Emma walked through the middle of what looked like pieces of wood
The production crew behind the series were said to have been given full permission from the family who still reside in the higher area of the castle to film there.
Scaffolding can be seen just behind the castle while there is also a large archway and scenic garden nearby where filming will likely take place.
MailOnline has contacted a representative for WarnerMedia for comment.
House of the Dragon will take place around 300 years before the Game of Thrones series, which ended in 2019, and will feature a star-studded cast including Olivia Cooke.
Set to be brutal? The prequel will depict the war of succession between Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors Rhaenyra and Aegon II known as the Dance of the Dragons (pictured left, Emilia as Daenerys and right her brother Viserys played by Harry Lloyd)
Confirmed! Speculation the prequel was filming in Cornwall has been growing in recent days, with the medieval castle on St Michael’s Mount, where production is said to be happening, baring a resemblance to Queen Cersei’s castle in the HBO series
Past: Much of Game of Thrones was filmed in Dubrovnik’s city walls, with the city becoming a hotspot for fans of the show
Location: The Cornish castle has a breathtaking view of the North Sea with much of the filming said to be taking place in the lower reaches of the mount within days
The show will depict the war of succession between Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors Rhaenyra and Aegon II, two dragon-wielding heirs to the Iron Throne, in a civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
The Dance of the Dragons saw Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon II fight over their father Viserys I’s throne in a war that lasted three years, and led to untold death and misfortune to the Targaryen line.
She was declared the heir to her father Viserys I, but upon his passing Aegon II was hastily crowned and she swore revenge against him, and she was shortly crowned queen with their father’s stolen crown, thus leading to a power struggle between the two.
Rhaenyra wed her uncle Daemon following the death of her first husband Ser Laenor Velaryon, prior to the Dance of the Dragons, and he helped support her campaign against her half-brother.
Prequel: The production crew behind the series were said to have been given full permission from the family who still reside in the higher area of the castle to film there
Great spot: The castle at St Michaels Mount in Marazion Bay appears to be a key spot for the production
Set: a number of houses appear to have been refurbished for the purposes of the show
Intriguing: The wreckage of a ship was seen being built by crew on set
Getting ready: Crew were seen testing out a wooden rowing boat that is believed to have been prepared for the shoot
It had already been confirmed that filming for House of the Dragon would begin in spring 2021, and would be filmed in the UK, at Leavesden Studios, which is owned by Warner Bros.
However with several sightings of film crews working in Cornwall over recent weeks, some fans had started to think that at least some of the production is happening in the county – which has now been confirmed with snaps of Emma and Matt on the beach.
Film crews were first spotted at St Michael’s Mount last week and at Penhale Camp near Newquay, with medieval-style sets being built at the former, and lighting rigs and lorries at the latter.
One clue sparked much excitement from residents, after spotting a symbol of a seahorse on the top of an archway set built on the National Trust-managed Mount.
Hint: There have been several sightings of film crews working in Cornwall over recent weeks
One clue sparked much excitement from residents, after spotting a symbol of a seahorse on the top of an archway set built on the National Trust-managed Mount which appeared to match House of Velaryon’s sigil
Preparations underway: In recent weeks, crew were seen setting up scaffolding near the beach and erecting tents
Stunning! St Michael’s Mount is most certainly a perfect location for the fantasy show with its castle built into a rock face
Zooming in from a distance, it appeared to closely match one of the Game of Thrones universe’s house sigils.
There is also a suggestion that filming is taking palace at Restormel Castle near Lostwithiel – land owned by English Heritage.
Signs near the castle direct people to it which read ‘base’, according to a witness, which include ‘scoutproductions.co.uk’ on them.
The National Trust, which owns the land, was unable to confirm what was being filmed. A spokesperson told Cornwall Live: ‘We can confirm there is a shoot but I’m afraid we are not able to give any more details at present.’
MailOnline contacted representatives for Warner Bros. and The National Trust for further comment at the time.
As well as the theory about filming being for House of the Dragon, others considered the crews could be working on a new series of Vikings, the movie sequel Fisherman’s Friends 2 or even the Warner Bros-produced Sesame Street film.
Casterly Rock: In keeping with the visuals of the hugely successful original HBO series, the castle bears a resemblance to Queen Cercei’s residence in King’s Landing (pictured, Lena Headey as Cersei)
Other clues that the series is being filmed in Cornwall included a job posting for bearded, long-haired men, around a month ago – with the same description from the same company, Scout Productions, as previous casting for GoT filming in Ireland – as well as confirmation from the studio that it had commenced filming in early 2021.
Emma and Matt join Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria and Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, an actor has yet to be cast as Aegon II.
Casting began last year, and the prequel is due to be released in spring 2022.
Fire is coming: The series will depict the war of succession between Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors Rhaenyra and Aegon II, two dragon-wielding heirs to the Iron Throne