The world of dragons, ice and fire has returned to Northern Ireland with filming underway on the Game Of Thrones prequel series.

Filming started for the as-yet untitled show at a remote secret location in Co Down and on the north coast last week.

Various sites across the province were also being set up last week, including Titanic Studios in Belfast.

The prequel is set 1,000 years before the original worldwide smash TV series and will star Oscar-nominated actress Naomi Watts, of King Kong fame, in the lead role.

The show will also feature Doctor Who and Life On Mars star John Simm as well as The Crying Game actress and Bafta award-winner Miranda Richardson.

Back in January, Sunday Life revealed filming for the highly anticipated spin-off would begin this spring before heading to Belfast later in the year.

Game Of Thrones came to its fiery conclusion earlier this year, with six epic episodes of the final series wowing audiences and leaving fans around the world desperate for more.

Little is known about what to expect from the new series.

But according to HBO, it will take place "thousands of years before the events of Game Of Thrones" and "chronicles the world's descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour".

"From the horrifying secrets of Westeros' history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the east to the Starks of legend, only one thing is for sure: it's not the story we think we know."

Based on information released by HBO, fans have already started speculating about what else might feature, including the origins of the Night King, the rise of the houses of Westeros and more stories from the east of George RR Martin's fantasy realm.

Staff at the studios in the Titanic Quarter have been informed that after filming on the prequel ends, they will be working on a new Star Wars spin-off.

Star Wars creator George Lucas visited Belfast 14 months ago to check out locations. He dined out in smart Holywood restaurant Noble during his short visit, which also took in a tour of the Paint Hall studios.

Belfast Telegraph