As House of the Dragon season 2 wrapped up, the excitement for the Game of Thrones universe only grew stronger with a sneak peek at the upcoming prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight.
In August 2024, fans were treated to a first look at this highly anticipated spinoff amidst a Max reel that also teased other big-name series like Dune and The Penguin, alongside returning favorites like The Last of Us and The White Lotus.
The brief promo introduced Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall, with quick glimpses of intense sword fights and the sweeping, familiar landscapes of Westeros that Game of Thrones fans know so well.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, with the first book, The Hedge Knight, set to be adapted into a six-episode series. Scheduled for a 2025 release, this latest prequel will bridge the narrative gap between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones.
The story delves into the lives of the “small folk who suffer at the hands of the game of thrones as it’s played by the nobles,” as executive producer Ryan Condal revealed to Entertainment Weekly in May 2024.
Here’s everything we’ve learned so far about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the next chapter in the Game of Thrones saga.
What is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms about?
*Based on George R.R. Martin’s novella, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms unfolds a century before the events of Game of Thrones, focusing on the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall—a young, naïve, yet courageous knight—and his unlikely companion, Egg, a diminutive squire.
According to HBO’s official description, the series is set during a time when the Targaryen dynasty still reigns supreme on the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon remains vivid in living memory. The story promises great destinies, formidable foes, and perilous exploits for these two improbable friends.
In Martin’s novella, the tale begins with Dunk, a humble squire, who inherits the belongings of a deceased knight and sets off to compete in a tournament at Ashford under the title of “Ser Duncan the Tall.” Accompanied by Egg, a young boy who becomes his squire, Dunk soon finds himself entangled in trouble when he defends Tanselle, his love interest, from the wrath of Prince Aerion Targaryen. This act of bravery sets off a chain of misadventures for the duo.
Though Martin is deeply involved in the series as a writer and executive producer, it remains uncertain how closely the show will adhere to the original novella or if it will expand beyond its pages. As Martin mentioned on his blog in June 2024, a novella is significantly shorter than a novel—The Hedge Knight spans just 164 pages, a brief read compared to the 700 to 1,000-page epics Martin is known for. How the show will flesh out this relatively short story remains to be seen.
When will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms be released?
There is no official release date, however, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be released in 2025.
Is there a trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
While an official trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has yet to be published, a sneak peek was included with other new and returning series on Max for 2024-2025.
Who is in the cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
Peter Claffey as Dunk
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg
Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen
Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon
Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen
