HBO's New 'Game of Thrones' Prequel: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

HBO is expanding the Game of Thrones universe with another prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The network continues to mine the rich history of George R. R. Martin's fantasy world, even as the original series' ending left some fans disappointed in 2019. HBO has recognized the world of Westeros as a lucrative property, with plenty of material to use from Martin's spinoff stories and novellas.

This new series is set about 70 years after the events of House of the Dragon and 100 years before Game of Thrones, filling in a significant gap in the franchise's massive timeline. While fans wait for House of the Dragon season three, which probably won't air until the summer of 2026, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers another prequel to look forward to in the meantime.

The series is based on George R. R. Martin's novellas that follow a hedge knight, Dunk, and his squire, Egg. The first season adapts Martin's first novella in the Tales of Dunk and Egg series, titled The Hedge Knight (1998). It introduces Dunk, an orphan from Flea Bottom, who dubs himself Ser Duncan the Tall.

The young man is known in Westeros as a hedge knight; instead of pledging fealty to any particular lord, he roams the country, offering his services and protecting the innocent. The novella opens with the death of Dunk's mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree. Left to his own devices, Dunk decides to enter a tournament at Ashford Meadow to make a name for himself and hopefully make some money.

On the way, he meets a 9-year-old boy with a shaved head, who introduces himself as Egg and offers to serve as Dunk's squire. After The Hedge Knight, the unlikely duo's adventures continue in The Sworn Sword (2003) and The Mystery Knight (2010).

The series will premiere on January 18, 2026, with each of its six episodes airing weekly thereafter. In May 2023, an HBO executive confirmed that the network plans to adapt each of the three novellas into a six-episode season. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has already been renewed for season two, set to debut in 2027.

The network is also working on other GoT prequel shows, including Nine Voyages, Ten Thousand Ships, and The Golden Empire. Fans familiar with Game of Thrones lore know that Dunk and Egg go on to play significant roles in Westerosi history, but as with the source material for Game of Thrones, the full story has not yet been put to page.

In a 2015 blog post, Martin said he plans to write more installments in the Dunk and Egg series, ideally spanning the entire lives of these characters.

He mentioned tentative titles include The She-Wolves of Winterfell, The Village Hero, The Sellsword, The Champion, The Kingsguard, and The Lord Commander. Should Martin release these in the future, HBO could easily turn A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms into a longer-running series.

The cast is led by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell. Claffey, a former rugby player known for Bad Sisters, plays Dunk, while Ansell, who appeared in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, plays Egg. Claffey is in his late 20s, meaning that his character has been aged up for the screen; in Martin's original novella, Dunk is still a teenager when Ser Arlan dies. Meanwhile, Ansell was 9 years old while filming season one, the same age as Egg.

Showrunner Ira Parker hopes to minimize the time off between filming each season because Ansell is a ticking time bomb of cuteness. While the show is predominantly focused on Dunk and other common folk in his orbit, there are several secondary characters with familiar surnames—ancestors of characters we see in Game of Thrones.

• Bertie Cavel as Baelor Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne
• Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen, Baelor's brother
• Henry Ashton as Prince Daeron Targaryen, Maekar's eldest son
• Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen, Maekar's second son
• Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon

Additionally, Tanzyn Crawford will play Dunk's love interest, Tanselle, and Danny Webb portrays Ser Arlan in flashbacks.

The trailers tease both violence and humor, offering a glimpse into the tone of the series. In the official trailer, Dunk says, "Ser Arlan raised me to be a true knight, not with sword or lance, but with honor." Clips include glimpses of knights jousting and swordfighting, as well as several cheeky digs at Dunk's appearance.

The steward of Ashford tells Dunk that he's dressed more like a farmer, while a woman describes his role as being "like a knight, but sadder." Even Egg gets in on the ribbing, noting, "Every knight needs a squire, and you look like you need one more than most."

The trailer also foreshadows tension between the common folk and the royal family. At this point in Westerosi history, the Targaryens are still in charge, but their dragons have died out, significantly weakening their claim to power. In one clip, Raymun Fossoway describes the Targaryens as "incestuous aliens and tyrants." There's a particular beef apparently brewing between Dunk and Aerion, referred to in the Fire and Blood history book as Aerion the Monstrous—a big enough threat that Dunk is advised to flee for his own safety.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms represents a significant expansion of the Westeros timeline, offering a grounded, character-driven story set against the backdrop of a fading Targaryen dynasty. With a confirmed second season and the potential for many more based on Martin's planned novellas, the series is positioned to become a long-running staple for HBO.

The focus on a hedge knight and his squire provides a fresh perspective on the world, moving away from the high-stakes political battles of kings and queens to explore the life of a common knight trying to make his way. As the premiere date approaches, fans will be watching to see how this new chapter unfolds in the ever-expanding Game of Thrones universe.