A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (TV series)

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is an upcoming American fantasy drama television series created by George R. R. Martin. A prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), it is set to be the third television series in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise and uses his Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas as its basis. It stars Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall, the titular hedge knight, and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Created byGeorge R. R. Martin
Based onTales of Dunk and Egg
by George R. R. Martin
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • George R. R. Martin
  • Ira Parker
  • Ryan Condal
  • Vince Gerardis
  • Owen Harris
  • Sarah Bradshaw
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHBO
Related
Game of Thrones

The series is scheduled to be released on HBO in 2025 and will consist of six episodes.

Cast

edit

Main

edit
  • Peter Claffey as Dunk / Ser Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight.
  • Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg / Prince Aegon Targaryen, a prince of the Targaryen dynasty and Dunk's squire.
  • Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen, a prince of the Targaryen dynasty and Egg's older brother.
  • Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne and Hand of the King to Daeron II.
  • Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, a Dornish puppeteer.
  • Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, a knight known as the "Laughing Storm" and the heir to House Baratheon.
  • Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen, Baelor's younger brother and Egg's father.

Guest

edit
  • Ross Anderson as Ser Humfrey Hardyng, a knight of House Hardying.
  • Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway, a knight of House Fossoway of Cider Hall.
  • Henry Ashton as Daeron "The Drunken" Targaryen, Egg and Aerion's older brother.
  • Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate, a blacksmith hailing from the Reach.
  • Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, a knight of House Dondarrion of Blackhaven.
  • Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway, Steffon's cousin and squire.
  • Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer, the steward of Ashford.
  • Steve Wall as Lord Leo "Longthorn" Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden.
  • Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree, a hedge knight and Dunk's mentor.

Production

edit
 
Show creator and executive producer George R. R. Martin

Development

edit

HBO announced that it was developing a new television prequel series to Game of Thrones in January 2021. The series follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and a young Aegon V Targaryen, nicknamed Egg, and is based on the novellas by George R. R. Martin that constitute the Tales of Dunk and Egg, taking place 90 years before A Song of Ice and Fire.[1] There were reports that Steven Conrad was hired to write for the series in November 2021.[2] The series received an official order from HBO in April 2023.[3] By then, Ira Parker, a writer on the first season of House of the Dragon, had already written the script for a pilot episode.[4] Casting began in October 2023 with plans to begin filming in 2024.[5] By February 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed that the series had begun pre-production and that Martin was serving as creator and executive producer.[6]

In May, Owen Harris was hired to direct the first three episodes of the series and serve as an executive producer, setting the tone for the series.[7] That June, Sarah Adina Smith was announced to direct three of the six episodes of the first season.[8][9]

Casting

edit

In April 2024, the lead roles were cast with Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg.[10] In June, it was announced that Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Tanzyn Crawford, Daniel Ings, and Sam Spruell had joined the cast as Prince Aerion Targaryen, Prince Baelor Targaryen, Tanselle, Ser Lyonel Baratheon, and Prince Maekar Targaryen, respectively.[8][9] In August, Edward Ashley, Henry Ashton, Youssef Kerkour, Daniel Monks, Shaun Thomas, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, and Danny Webb were cast as Ser Steffon Fossoway, Daeron Targaryen, Steely Pate, Ser Manfred Dondarrion, Raymun Fossoway, Plummer, and Ser Arlan of Pennytree, respectively.[11]

Filming

edit

Production began in June 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland,[8] and wrapped in September.[12]

Release

edit

Broadcast

edit

The first season of the series is set to be released on HBO and Max in late 2025 and will consist of six episodes.[13][7]

Promotion

edit

On August 4, 2024, HBO released the first preview of the series, as part of the network's announcement of upcoming original programs.[14][15] On November 11, 2024, HBO released a "first look" teaser for the series.[16]

References

edit
  1. ^ Otterson, Joe (January 21, 2021). "Game of Thrones Prequel Tales of Dunk and Egg in Early Development at HBO (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Maas, Jennifer (November 30, 2021). "Game of Thrones Prequel Tales of Dunk and Egg Sets Steve Conrad as Writer". TheWrap. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  3. ^ Hibberd, James (April 12, 2023). "Game of Thrones Dunk and Egg Prequel Officially Ordered to Series". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Tapp, Tom (February 23, 2024). "A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight: Everything We Know About The Game Of Thrones Prequel, Including Plot, Premiere Date & Whether George R.R. Martin Is Involved". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Jirak, Jamie (October 21, 2023). "Game of Thrones Spinoff Casting Call May Hint at Sooner Than Expected Production". ComicBook.com. Paramount Global. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Hibberd, James (February 23, 2024). "Game of Thrones Spinoff The Hedge Knight Gets 2025 Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Hibberd, James (May 7, 2024). "Game of Thrones Spinoff Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Adds Black Mirror Director in Major Role". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Vary, Adam B. (June 18, 2024). "Game of Thrones Spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Begins Filming as The Crown, True Detective Actors Join Cast". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (June 18, 2024). "Daniel Ings & Sam Spruell Among Five Additions To HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – First Look". Deadline. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  10. ^ Otterson, Joe (April 5, 2024). "Game of Thrones Prequel Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight Casts Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell in Lead Roles". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Moreau, Jordan (August 8, 2024). "'Game of Thrones' Spinoff 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Adds 7 to Cast, Including Another Targaryen". Variety. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Rudoy, Matthew (September 15, 2024). "New Game Of Thrones Prequel Star Commemorates The End Of Filming In Wrap Video". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  13. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (February 23, 2024). "Games of Thrones' Next Spin-Off, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Arrives Late 2025". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Roots, Kimberly (August 5, 2024). "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' Dunk and Egg Swing Into Action in Game of Thrones Spinoff's First Footage". TVLine. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  15. ^ "HBO Previews 2025 Slate, Including The Last of Us Season 2". Consequence. August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Pilley, Max (November 11, 2024). "'Game Of Thrones' spin-off 'A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' shares first look teaser". NME. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
edit