Steve Toussaint, who portrays the resilient Corlys Velaryon in HBO's 'House of the Dragon,' has broken his silence on the dramatic events of the season 3 finale and shared what little he knows about the upcoming fourth season. The season saw Corlys endure significant losses, including the destruction of his castle and fleet during the Battle of the Gullet, the deaths of family members, and a rejection of his plea to legitimize his bastard sons as heirs.
His situation worsened when he was abducted and held hostage, placing him in a precarious position during the climactic Battle of Tumbleton. Toussaint revealed that Corlys attempted to broker a peace or power-sharing deal to prevent further bloodshed, a move driven by his exhaustion with the ongoing conflict and personal sacrifices.
"He genuinely thinks that what he posits could be a way out of this," Toussaint explained, referring to Corlys's perspective on avoiding unnecessary conflict. "He realizes that where Gwayne [Hightower] is going, this idea of two monarchs, is a non-starter, which is why he steps in and basically says to Gwayne, 'Shut up.' But he sincerely thinks this might be the way to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Toussaint emphasized Corlys's weariness with war. "I think he is genuine towards the end of that speech, where he says to Daemon, 'You have to decide what you want, whether it's Rhaenyra on the throne or a mountain of dead Hightowers.'" The actor described a moment of genuine despair for Corlys as he realized Daemon's likely violent response.
Regarding the Battle of Tumbleton, Toussaint detailed its filming locations, noting that much of the exterior battle sequences and dialogues were shot in a large valley south of London filled with extras and constructed elements. Interior scenes, such as when Corlys pulls Daemon from the battle, were filmed on built sets.
Despite his character's central role, Toussaint admitted to a constant worry about Corlys's fate. "At the end of episode 1 of this season, when Corlys tumbles into the sea, I'm like, 'Oh God, here we go. Am I alive in episode 2?' Because people just get chopped off nonstop," he said. Toussaint has deliberately avoided reading George R.R. Martin's book, on which the series is based, to fully embody the script as written. "My job is to try to bring to life the script, as opposed to the book. They're two different things."
On the subject of season 4, Toussaint remains largely in the dark. "Still waiting," he stated. He last spoke with showrunner Ryan Condal, who indicated that the first draft of season four was nearing completion. Condal offered a vague but encouraging response, telling Toussaint, "You know, it's going to be pretty good." However, no specific plot details have been shared with the actor.
'House of the Dragon' is currently streaming on HBO Max.