With the announcement that HBO is producing a prequel to Game of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novella trilogy, here’s everything that’s been announced about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight. HBO’s Game of Thrones franchise began with the adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire which became the flagship Game of Thrones series, before continuing with an adaptation of the prequel Fire and Blood, which became House of the Dragon. Now, it's moving on to another of Martin's Westeros stories.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. Martin published Tales of Dunk and Egg in 1998 with The Hedge Knight and finished the trilogy with The Sworn Sword (2003) and The Mystery Knight (2010). These three novellas were then published in a collection, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2015). The Max series will follow the first of these three novellas, starting with The Hedge Knight.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Latest News
George R. R. Martin's Clarifies The Show's Release Window
A few months after the most recent update regarding the spinoff, the latest news sees George R.R. Martin discussing A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' release window. Though earlier reports seemed to suggest that the spinoff would be coming in summer 2025, Martin made a post on his official blog which shifts the window to late 2025. Martin wrote "The series will make its debut late this year, I am now told. How late, I could not say. Maybe in the fall." In the same blog, Martin also praised the series, claiming to have seen all six episodes.
Of the show, Martin wrote:
A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS, for starts. It’s done. Ira and his team wrapped the first season months ago, and moved right on to post production. I’ve seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, ittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favorites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible. The rest of the cast are terrific as well. Wait until you guys meet the Laughing Storm. and Tanselle Too-Tall.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Is Confirmed
The GoT Spinoff Was Announced In 2021
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was first teased to be in early development in 2021 (via Game of Thrones spinoff was then confirmed on April 14, 2023, by Warner Bros. The HBO Max Twitter made a post depicting a map of the Seven Kingdoms with the overlay, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" presented by HBO Originals. The caption of the post reads, “A century before #GameofThrones, there was Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg.”
HBO Max also announced some of the attached crew for the spinoff series. Ira Parker, who was the co-executive producer of season 1 of House of the Dragon, and Ryan Condal and Vince Gerardis, both veteran producers of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, will serve as executive producers on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Martin is also attached as a writer and an executive producer.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Production Status
The Hedge Knight Arrives In Late 2025
Even though many details about the series are still unknown, HBO has provided a pretty clear production timeline for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms since announcing the project. In February 2024, it was not only revealed that the series would begin production in June 2024, but HBO would then go on to confirm that it would premiere sometime in late 2025. Filming did indeed begin in June, and promptly wrapped in September 2024. George R.R. Martin has mused that the serie could arrive in fall, but specifics aren't known.
This means the 2025 release window is quite attainable, even if post-production is a lengthy process. Unlike Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, there are unlikely to be too many major CGI elements, as the story takes place at a time in Westeros where there are no dragons, and no White Walkers.
The first season of the show will consist of 6 episodes, with Owen Harris (who directed Martin’s “all time favorite episode of Black Mirror “San Junipero,”) directing 3 episodes, and Sarah Adina Smith (Lessons in Chemistry) directing the other 3. George R R Martin is also heavily involved in the series, both writing and executive producing. He is ed in the writer's room by House of the Dragon's Ira Parker, and HotD's showrunner Ryan Condal is also going to be executive producing. Vince Gerardis, Owen Harris, and Sarah Bradshaw will also executive produce.
Fellow Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon concluded its second season on August 4, 2024.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Cast
Ser Duncan & King Aegon V Have Been Cast
With many of the details surrounding the series still shrouded in mystery, the two lead roles have finally been cast in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The role of the noble Ser Duncan the Tall will be played by former professional rugby player-turned-actor Peter Claffey, and he will be protecting king-in-disguise Aegon V Targaryen who will be played by Dexter Sol Ansell.
ing cast have also started to be announced, including Finn Bennett as the cruel Aerion Targaryen. ing Bennett is Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, a puppeteer who, in the novella, is mistreated by the vicious Aerion and eventually defended by Dunk and Egg. Bertie Carvel will play Baelor Targaryen, with Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon and Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen. Henry Ashton is set to appear as Daeron Targaryen, the son of King Maekar I who has prophetic dreams.
The entire known cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms includes:
Actor |
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Role |
|
|---|---|---|
Peter Claffey |
Ser Duncan the Tall |
|
Dexter Sol Ansell |
Aegon V Targaryen |
|
Finn Bennett |
Aerion Targaryen |
|
Tanzyn Crawford |
Tanselle |
|
Bertie Carvel |
Baelor Targaryen |
|
Daniel Ings |
Ser Lyonel Baratheon |
|
Sam Spruell |
Maekar Targaryen |
|
Henry Ashton |
Daeron Targaryen |
|
Edward Ashley |
Ser Steffon Fossoway |
|
Daniel Monks |
Ser Manfred Dondarrion |
|
Tom Vaughn-Lawlor |
Plummer |
|
Danny Webb |
Ser Arland of Pennytree |
|
Shaun Thomas |
Raymun Fossoway |
|
Youssef Kerkour |
Steely Pate |
|
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Story Details
A Century Before Game Of Thrones
They travel across Westeros, interacting with the common people and the lords and ladies under the rule of the Targaryens
HBO has released the official synopsis for the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
A century before the events of “Game of Thrones,” two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet ed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.
The Game of Thrones spin-off follows Sir Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight, and his young but courageous squire, Egg. If the series is going to follow the original book exactly, it will start before the two pair up, at a tourney, and will show how this unlikely duo comes together. They travel across Westeros, interacting with the common people and the lords and ladies under the rule of the Targaryens, who are in the later stages of their rule - which may be disappointing to House Targaryen fans looking forward to dragons.
"The Shadow Of Summerhall": New Game Of Thrones Prequel Will Finally Solve 1 Of The Oldest Book Mysteries
The Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, will finally answer a massive A Song of Ice and Fire question.
If the series follows the novella closely, Egg will be quickly revealed as Aegon V Targaryen, the youngest son of King Maekar I. Aegon “Egg” decides he wants to learn how the smallfolk live, and Duncan the Tall is picked to accompany him. Egg learns what life is like for the common folk and Dunk learns about chivalry and honor. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms depicts one of the few times in Westeros when things are at peace, but all the while, the seeds of the wars to come in Game of Thrones are planted.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Trailer
Watch The First Teaser Below
While a full trailer is still a long ways off, HBO released a brief teaser for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as part of their year-end look at what's coming to Max in late-2024 and into 2025. Though shows like The Last of Us took up the bulk of the trailer, a few short clips of the Game of Thrones spinoff did make it in, including Ser Duncan punching a foe and the first glimpse of Egg.
Source: HBO Max, Variety
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight
- Network
- HBO
- Directors
- Owen Harris
- Writers
- Martin Parker, Ira Parker
- Franchise(s)
- Game of Thrones
Cast
Peter ClaffeySer Steffon Fossoway-
Dexter Sol AnsellEgg
Finn BennettSer Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall
Bertie CarvelAerion Targaryen
Based on a set of prequel novellas by George R. R. Martin, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight takes place one hundred years before Game of Thrones. The series follows a knight and a squire who travel across the lands of Westeros during one of the most tumultuous times in the nation's history.
