Alas, the end of 2024 is drawing closer, and another Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, waits in the wings of 2025.
This particular prequel is an exciting prospect for the keen and savvy book readers out there.
Given what we know of the books, Max’s latest outing (Max is on a roll heading into 2025) should easily develop into a multi-series story.
There are three books in the Dunk and Egg series (the nicknames given to two of the story’s primary characters), and their story is set some hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones.
In fact, Dunk (short for Duncan) interacted with one of the characters every Game of Thrones viewer is familiar with.
If the showrunners are willing to put in the same effort with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms that is making House of the Dragon so popular, we’re in for a real treat.
What is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms About?
Oftentimes, shows carry titles that are loosely related to the story and plot elements within.
Sometimes, it’s an artistic rendition. Sometimes, it just makes no sense, and we’re all left scratching our collective heads.
In this case, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is an adjective describing Dunk — Ser Duncan the Tall. The Seven Kingdoms part conveys his adventures throughout Westeros.
There is no trailer yet, and there is insufficient information to formulate a general story and plotline, so the only option is to turn to the three books for guidance.
The first in the series is a novella titled The Hedge Knight. Dunk is a squire who adopts the armor and weaponry of Ser Arlan, a Knight who recently died en route to a tournament.
On his way to the very same tourney, Dunk picks up his own squire — Egg. While the tournament is the destination, the catalyzing event is Dunk attacking Prince Aerion to defend another.
In any good show or movie, someone or something always kicks the snowball down the mountain.
Dunk spends the remainder of the book preparing for and defending himself in a Trial of Seven, with Egg ultimately becoming his more or less permanent squire.
It’s a simple format that gives showrunners plenty of leverage for dialogue, action, and character relationships set against the familiar backdrops of Westeros.
How closely A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will hew to the books is up in the air.
Given the relative popularity of the series, here’s to hoping Max goes with something that honors the source material. We all know what happens when TV adaptations go too far off the beaten path.
Is the Cast for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Set?
Barring a surprise or two down the road, most of the series’ cast is already in place. There are some interesting choices that we have plenty of time to ponder, waiting for 2025.
- Peter Claffey – Dunk (Ser Duncan the Tall)
- Sam Spruell – Prince Maekar Targaryen
- Bertie Carvel – Prince Baelor Targaryen
- Daniel Ings – Ser Lyonel Baratheon
- Dexter Sol Ansell – Egg (Prince Aegon Targaryen)
- Finn Bennet – Prince Aerion Targaryen
- Tanzen Crawford – Tanselle
- Edward Ashley – Ser Steffon Fossoway
- Ross Anderson – Ser Humfrey Hardying
- Danny Webb – Ser Arlan of Pennytree
- Steve Wall – Lord Leo Tyrell
- Henry Ashton – Daeron Targaryen
- Daniel Monks – Ser Manfred Dondarrion
- Tom Vaughan-Lawlor – Plummer
- Youssef Kerkour – Steely Pate
Dunk and Egg, of course, are the primary characters at the center of the Dunk and Egg novels, but several of the Targaryens will play minor and major roles.
Others on the list are guest actors or actresses who will come and go throughout the season.
When Will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Premiere?
We’re in for a long wait, or at least it will feel that way. The exact date for the release of the first season has not been set, assuming there will be more than one season.
The only thing we know is that it will premiere sometime in late 2025.
Not exactly the best news in the world. But, as the saying goes, “good things come to those who wait.” Here’s to hoping that “late” 2025 is more like an early fall release date. You never know!
Is There a Trailer Yet?
Not per se. Max did release one of their teaser compilations, which includes most of their biggest upcoming shows in Fall 2024 and 2025.
At least, it contains what we know so far and what HBO/Max is willing to show us.
There is a brief moment of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms footage that runs from the 1:10 mark to 1:15.
That whole thing about “Max being on a roll heading into 2025” is correct.
There are also some awesome snippets of some highly anticipated shows coming up, including another season of The Last of Us and It: Welcome to Derry.
How Many Episodes Are On Order?
In previous articles, we covered the changes happening in the world of the small screen, and those changes are starting to bear fruit.
Unfortunately, it’s a less popular fruit. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will only have six episodes.
For many, including yours truly, 6 episodes seem pretty lame.
Of course, I grew up in the day and age of 20+ episodes on the regular. Not everyone may agree, and if that’s the case, this information makes for good news.
Where Can You Watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
Max. Or, if you prefer, HBO. Maybe HBO/Max? Or whatever it is that HBO, uh, Max is going with today.
Back in March of 2021, HBO (as it was known then) updated its original deal with author and producer George R.R. Martin.
This new deal cost HBO an eight-figure sum. WarnerMedia, which owns Max, already had House of the Dragon in the works at the time, with multiple Song of Ice and Fire projects in the works.
Many of those works died an ugly death, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms made it through.
Unfortunately, all the money, deals, and work coming up will give Martin ample reasons to avoid completing The Winds of Winter.
Perhaps we’ll never know what really happened to Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen in the actual Song of Ice and Fire.
You know, the kid who was the nexus around which everything revolved did nothing in Season 8 and faded away somewhere north of the wall. The other died an ignoble death after suddenly going mad.
Who’s Running the Show Behind the Scenes?
The show’s creators are Ira Parker and Martin Parker. The former is involved with House of the Dragon to some degree, and both are responsible for the writing of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Ira Parker only penned a single episode in the first season of House of the Dragon, so it remains to be seen how well her writing translates to the screen on this latest venture.
Sarah Bradshaw, Owen Harris, Vince Gerardis, Ryan Condal, Ira Parker, and George R.R. Martin are executive producers.
What Source Material is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Based On?
Often known as the Tales of Dunk and Egg, the upcoming Max series is based on three books in that series:
The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight.
The first book was released in 1998, and the last in 2010.
Martin has previously stated that he wishes to continue the series, assuming the first season does well enough to merit covering The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight in succeeding seasons.
The Hedge Knight will be a lot shorter than Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, with a much different tone. However, this is still Westeros, which means “no one is truly safe. If A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Does Well, The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight will follow. By that time, I hope to have finished some more Dunk and Egg stories.
-George R.R. Martin
That’s all we know about Max’s upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms series.
Is there anything you would like to see other than a release date for The Winds of Winter?
Drop a comment below!