When Game of Thrones premiered on HBO in 2011, few could have predicted that Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen would become the emotional and political axis of the series. Let alone the show itself would grow into a global phenomenon that reshaped prestige television. But when that chapter closed in 2019, her absence from long-form TV became as noticeable as her rise once was.

While audiences continued to associate her with a single, era-defining role that reshaped our way of watching TV, Clarke quietly resisted returning to the format that made her a global star. 

Now, years later, a new project is pulling her back to the medium. This time, with a story that is rooted not in fantasy or spectacle, but in secrecy, loss, and Cold War tension. 

The first trailer for Ponies has now dropped, offering a tense and stylish glimpse into Emilia Clarke’s long-awaited return to television. The footage introduces Clarke and co-star Haley Lu Richardson as two women drawn into a dangerous web of espionage, blending Cold War paranoia with sharp character-driven stakes. The eye-catching portrayal of Emilia Clarke in Ponies will be available to stream on January 15 on Peacock.

Visually steeped in the 1970s intrigue, the trailer leans on simmering tension rather than spectacle. It positions the series as a grounded spy thriller with emotional weight. The intense role also suggests a promising shift for Clarke, showcasing her in a restrained, dramatic role, which is far removed from her fantasy roots. 

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Inked in secrets, the character is not the only thing that is signifying Emilia Clarke's return to television as it turns out she is all hands on deck. 

For Emilia Clarke, Ponies is not just a return to television but a recalibration of her career priorities. After Game of Thrones, she navigated major studio projects like Solo: A Star Wars Story and Marvel’s Secret Invasion, but Clarke has increasingly gravitated toward roles that emphasize character over spectacle. What elevates the project further is Clarke’s involvement behind the camera.

Serving as an executive producer, she has a direct hand in shaping the series’ tone and narrative focus. This dual role signals a more hands-on phase of her career. Her pairing with Haley Lu Richardson is central to the show’s emotional core.

Ponies leans heavily on their evolving dynamic as two underestimated women navigating betrayal, power, and moral ambiguity. However, the actress seems to be hell-bent on testing out all of her acting muscles as the Peacock project marks only one among a packed return to the screen for Clarke.

Alongside the Peacock series, she is attached to the crime drama Criminal and the feature film Next Life, directed by Drake Doremus, as well as An Ideal Wife from filmmaker Sophie Hyde and The Comeback, directed by Romola Garai. Clarke is also stepping further behind the camera as an executive producer on Hangman. After years of selective silence, Emilia Clarke is back. If Ponies is the opening move, this is less a comeback and more a takeover.

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Are you ready to see Emilia Clarke like never before? Le