‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 to Open Italy’s Taormina Film Festival With Stars Steve Toussaint, Bethany Antonia and More Attending (EXCLUSIVE)

The Italian premiere of the first episode of HBO’s “House of the Dragon” Season 3 has been set as opener of Italy’s upcoming Taormina Film Festival that will run June 10-14 in the Sicilian sea resort.

“House of the Dragon” stars Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys Velaryon), Harry Collett (Jacaerys Velaryon), Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen) and Phoebe Campbell (Rhaena Targaryen) are set to attend the show’s spectacular Italian launch in Taormina’s large open-air ancient Greek amphitheater in the shadow of Sicily’s active Mt. Etna volcano.

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The show’s global bow will take place in London on June 8.

The storied festival, held in the resort that is known to U.S. audiences as the location of “The White Lotus” Season 2, is being revamped by marketing guru and festivals specialist Tiziana Rocca.

“We are proud to open the 72nd edition of the Taormina Film Festival with one of the most beloved and spectacular series on the contemporary international scene,” Rocca said in a statement. “Welcoming the cast of ‘House of the Dragon’ to Taormina and offering the Italian public this exclusive preview is an extraordinary event that confirms the festival’s role as an international benchmark for the entire audiovisual sector.”

The third season of the “Game of Thrones” prequel will launch in the U.S. on June 21 at 9 p.m. ET and stream at the same time on HBO Max. The eight-episode season will air new episodes weekly until the season finale on Aug. 9. It will premiere on HBO Max in Italy on June 22.

Based on the George R.R. Martin book “Fire & Blood,” the series is set roughly 200 years prior to the events of “Game of Thrones” and tells the story of the Targaryen civil war that is known in Westeros as the Dance of Dragons.

As previously announced, Jane Campion is presiding over the Taormina fest jury and Helen Mirren will receive a lifetime achievement award. Taormina is also set to host the world premiere of Australian action thriller “Bear Country” that reunites Russell Crowe with “Unhinged” helmer Derrick Borte, with Crowe expected to make the treck.

The fest’s full lineup will be announced on June 4.