House of the Dragon is a prequel series to Game of Thrones, set 172 years before the birth of one of the central characters, Daenerys Targaryen. Upon its premiere on August 21, 2022, it clocked 25 million views, making it a worldwide success.

Sapochnik was also involved in several Game of Thrones episodes in seasons five, six, and eight. He is of Argentine origin and has been married to actress Alexis Raben since 2006.

Miguel Sapochnik was reportedly displeased with HBO’s decision to not hire his wife

Puck recently reported that when Sapochnik left the series in August, it was accompanied by a first-look deal that was ideal on his terms with upcoming HBO projects. However, it doesn’t look like these projects will be successfully executed due to the tension between Sapochnik and the network.

Sapochnik was reportedly not happy with HBO’s decision not to hire his wife, Alexis, for season 2 of the show. Alexis Raben served as a producer on the first season of the show and also appeared in a couple of episodes as the queen’s lady-in-waiting.

When the director requested that the network hire his wife again for season two, HBO denied his request. Reportedly, the reason for this decision was due to Alexis’ inexperience.

Sapochnik released a statement of gratitude for his experience being a part of the Game of Thrones franchise. He said:

He continued:

HBO reportedly tried to resolve the issue by involving a mediator, but Sapochnik was adamant about his decision. After the show’s financial success, the couple changed agencies and joined CAA.

HBO replaced Miguel Sapochnik with director Alan Taylor for season 2 of House of the Dragon

After Sapochnik’s exit, HBO brought in director Alan Taylor for season 2 of the show. He is best known for his work on television series such as The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Mad Men, and Game of Thrones.

Upon joining the show, he said:

He continued:

Series co-creator Ryan Condal will now serve as the sole showrunner, continuing his work with the genius creator of the Game of Thrones universe, George R.R. Martin.

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