“So, how good of a knight are you?” That’s the question ringing through the new trailer for HBO’s upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the second Game of Thrones prequel series that’s set to explore a calmer but compelling corner of Westeros. Taking place a century before the original show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows the “unlikely hereos” Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg as they work their way through tournaments, shifting politics, and the lingering presence of dragons.
Based on what we’ve seen (and heard) so far, the upcoming TV series will tell a completely different kind of story, with a lighter, more humorous tone that’s more in line with George R. R. Martin’s Dunk & Egg novellas, which have long been regarded as his most laid-back writings. So if you’re curious about when the show premieres, what the story will be about, who’s in the cast, and everything in between, here’s all you need to know about HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Release Date and Episodes
Your New Year’s binge is pretty much sorted, as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere on HBO and HBO Max starting January 18, 2026. The first season will consist of six episodes, three of which are directed by Owen Harris and the other three by Sarah Adina Smith.
HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Cast
Don’t expect to see any familiar faces in the cast of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, since the series takes place long before Game of Thrones and a little after the events of House of the Dragon. Instead, we’ll meet an entirely new cast of characters, led by Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall, the titular hedge knight, and Dexter Sol Ansell as his squire Aegon Targaryen (“Egg”). The ensemble additionally includes Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen, Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen, Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, and Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen.
Here’s the full cast list for HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:
- Peter Claffey as Dunk/Ser Duncan the Tall
- Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg
- Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen
- Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Targaryen
- Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen
- Henry Ashton as Daeron Targaryen
- Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon
- Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle
- Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree
- Steve Wall as Lord Leo Tyrell
- Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion
- Ross Anderson as Ser Humfrey Hardyng
- Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway
- Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway
- Youseff Kerkour as Steely Pate
- Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer
What Will HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Be About?
As already pointed out, the plot of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will chronicle the exploits of Egg, an enthusiastic young squire, and the hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall. Based on George R. R. Martin’s Dunk & Egg novellas, the series takes place 72 years after House of the Dragon and 100 years before Game of Thrones. Here’s what the official logline of the series reads:
“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 passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.”
George R. R. Martin and showrunner Ira Parker have hinted that the series will focus on tournaments and the grounded, boots-on-the-field life of a knight, rather than the sprawling battles of the later shows. Martin had long wanted to build a story around a full medieval tournament and even challenged the show’s writing team to come up with “the best jousting sequences ever put on film,” which ultimately shaped the entire tone of the series.
Talking a bit about the upcoming show during a New York Comic-Con panel, Martin revealed, “I always love Medieval tournaments in other pictures. We had several tournaments in Game of Thrones, they were in the background, but not the center. I wanted to do something set during a tournament. I sent (the TV writers) a challenge: Let’s do the best jousting sequences that were ever done on film. My favorite was 1952’s Ivanhoe.”
HBO drama head Francesca Orsi also teased that the action in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be similar to what we’ve seen in the GOT shows. Talking to THR, Orsi had said, “We’re doing a Game of Thrones spinoff titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for under $10 million in episode, [which is peanuts] relative to what Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon cost episodically,” and went to add, “And the battle sequences that the directors achieved match those across Game of Thrones and are a fraction of the price, so it’s a lesson for us that we need to be challenging these budgets.”
And don’t expect any dragons in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, as the show’s story is set 72 years after House of the Dragon and 100 years before Game of Thrones, which puts it in the era when the Targaryens no longer had dragons.
Is There a Trailer for HBO’s A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms?
Yes, there’s a trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it gives a clear feel for the type of story the show will tell. The trailer opens on an ominous shot of armored knights ready for battle, seen through the narrow visor of one very anxious knight. We then cut to Baelon Targaryen asking Ser Duncan the Tall, who has just been knighted following the death of his mentor, how good he actually is. Duncan answers with “You’ll see” and then immediately walks into the wrong door, which tells you what kind of vibe this show will lean into.
Instead of following ruthless lords vying for the Iron Throne, the show will focus on a scrappy hedge knight trying to make a name for himself. Despite this, he finds an ally in Egg, who offers to be his squire because “every knight needs a squire” and Duncan looks like he needs “one more than most.”
The trailer also shows Duncan setting his sights on winning a major tournament in the hopes that a powerful house will eventually bring him into its service. However, things take a turn when he’s pitted against Prince Aerion Targaryen and everyone around him advises him to flee since the outcome will be bleak either way. But Duncan ultimately chooses to stay and fight. The trailer ends with him facing Prince Aerion Targaryen and calling out to the crowd, “Has honor deserted the noble houses of Westeros?Are there no true knights among you?”, only to be met with silence. “Was that ill-handled,” Claffey’s Ser Duncan the Tall asks at the end. Well, we’ll soon find out.
Will There Be a Season 2 of HBO’s A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms?
There’s plenty more adventure ahead for our two unlikely heroes as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already confirmed for Season 2. HBO locked in the renewal even before Season 1 debuted, with Season 2 currently planned for 2027.
During the recent CCXP (Comic Con Experience) in São Paulo, Peter Claffey, who plays the titular knight in the show, revealed that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will soon begin shooting Season 2, saying, “On Tuesday, we start filming season two!”
While laying out the broader roadmap for upcoming GOT spin-offs, Francesca Orsi, EVP of HBO Programming and Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, said, “We are thrilled to be able to deliver new seasons of these two series for the next three years, for the legion of fans of the Game of Thrones universe. Together, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms reveal just how expansive and richly imagined George R. R. Martin’s universe continues to be. In January, I think audiences will be delighted by the inspiring underdog tale of Dunk and Egg that George and Ira Parker have captured so beautifully. And this summer, House of the Dragon is set to ignite once again with some of its most epic battles yet.”
Are There Any Other Shows Like HBO’s A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms?
The closest match is, unsurprisingly, the larger world it comes from. If you want more of Westeros, the natural starting point is Game of Thrones, followed by its ongoing prequel, House of the Dragon, which digs deeper into the Targaryen dynasty and the events that shape the kingdom nearly a century before Dunk and Egg’s adventure. If you’re after historical dramas or darker fantasy, check out The Last Kingdom, Vikings, Black Sails and Shogun.
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