Beyond his acclaimed turn as Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins and his ventures as a game developer, Abubakar Salim brings his deep-seated love for gaming to his role in House of the Dragon. While portraying Alyn of Hull, Salim found a vital creative touchstone in the stoic, vengeful journey of Kratos from the God of War series.
“Kratos is defined by the trauma inflicted by his father—a man striving for a new beginning while haunted by a legacy of rage and perceived betrayal,” Salim shared during a virtual roundtable. “There is significant thematic overlap with Alyn. Alyn’s strength is drawn from a volatile, unchecked anger that is inherently dangerous. In moments of crisis or combat, he allows himself to channel that dark energy.”
While Kratos’ narrative arc moved from the divine wrath of the Greek pantheon to seeking redemption in the wilds of Midgard, Alyn’s path in House of the Dragon is grounded in the complicated dynamics of House Velaryon. As the illegitimate son of Lord Corlys Velaryon, Alyn navigates a life of service at sea, wrestling with deep-seated resentment even as he approaches a potential reconciliation with his father during the season 2 finale.
“Often, he remains withdrawn, focusing entirely on his duties because he is terrified of what might happen if he releases his inner turmoil,” Salim explained. “You see that containment shatter at the Gullet, and glimpses of it bubble to the surface when he confronts Corlys in episode 8.”
The Battle of the Gullet anchors the House of the Dragon season premiere, showcasing an intense maritime clash where Alyn faces off against the formidable pirate Admiral Sharako Lohar, played by Abigail Thorn.
“Abigail is a force of nature,” Salim added. “We both committed to making the conflict as brutal and visceral as possible. As fellow nerds, we were both channeling beasts. Throughout that entire sequence, I was leaning heavily into the Kratos mindset: draw that power in and unleash it. It was a truly exhilarating experience.”
House of the Dragon season 3 premieres on HBO on June 21, with new episodes airing every Sunday through August 9.
Source: Polygon
