Fans of the world of Westeros are about to experience a new kind of story. The upcoming HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere on January 18, 2026, and it will break from the franchise’s tradition with a shorter, more focused format. The first season will consist of six episodes, each with a runtime of approximately 30 to 35 minutes.
This new structure marks a significant change from the typical hour-long episodes of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. The entire season will have a total runtime close to that of a long film, telling a tighter story centered on the adventures of a wandering knight and his young squire.
A New Format for Westeros
The reported episode runtimes have sparked discussion among fans. With each episode being roughly half an hour, the total screen time for the first season will be about three hours. This is a departure from the extended, sprawling narratives that defined Game of Thrones, which often featured ten hour-long episodes per season. The new series’ sister show, House of the Dragon, also followed a longer format with ten episodes in its first season and eight in its second.
Some fans online have expressed surprise at the shorter length. One fan commented, “30-minute episodes for a Game of Thrones TV show? Good lord,” while another noted, “So 3hrs total? Just make it a movie, omg.” This format, however, suggests a more concentrated and fast-paced adaptation that stays very close to its source material.
The Source Material and Story
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on George R. R. Martin’s beloved novella series, Tales of Dunk and Egg. The story is set about a century before the events of Game of Thrones and follows the journey of two unlikely companions: Ser Duncan the Tall (or “Dunk”), a humble and courageous hedge knight, and his squire Egg, who is secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen.
The first season will adapt the first novella, The Hedge Knight. The shorter episode length aligns well with the scale of the original story. The audiobook for The Hedge Knight is also about three hours long, indicating that the TV adaptation aims to be a faithful retelling without unnecessary filler. The story is known for being more intimate and character-driven than the epic wars for the Iron Throne, focusing on adventure, chivalry, and the unique bond between its two main characters.
A Different Tone and Perspective
Show creators have emphasized that this series will have a different feel from its predecessors. The showrunner, Ira Parker, explained that the goal was to tell the story from Dunk’s point of view, creating a grounded and gritty experience.
“Our guiding light on this show was to follow Dunk in terms of tone and point of view and the mud and the dirt. We want the audience to feel what he feels. We want to be with him as closely as possible,” Parker said. “It’s not big sprawling Game of Thrones that we’ve come to know and love; it’s close and it’s hard.”
This perspective shift means viewers will experience Westeros from the bottom up, through the eyes of a common knight with no name, inheritance, or wealth. The production focused on creating a visceral, earthy feel, with Parker noting they intentionally added mud and dirt to sets to convey the raw and unpolished reality of Dunk’s life.
The Creative Team and Cast
The series is co-created by George R. R. Martin and Ira Parker, a writer from House of the Dragon. The lead role of Ser Duncan the Tall is played by Peter Claffey, while Dexter Sol Ansell portrays the young Egg.
The cast also includes several other key figures from the world of Westeros, including:
- Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen
- Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Targaryen
- Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen
- Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon
The directors for the season are Owen Harris, who directed the first three episodes, and Sarah Adina Smith, who directed the final three.
Fan Reactions and Future Seasons
The announcement of the shorter episode format has led to mixed reactions. While some fans are disappointed by the brief runtime, others see it as a positive change that will ensure a compact and well-paced plot without filler content.
There is also strong indication that the show is planned as a multi-season story. HBO’s head of drama has previously discussed mapping out a three-season series, with each season expected to adapt one of the three existing Dunk and Egg novellas. This plan supports the decision to film a concise adaptation of each book, and a back-to-back production schedule for future seasons is considered likely to account for the young age of actor Dexter Sol Ansell.
The series wrapped filming in late 2024 and is set to arrive on HBO and Max in early 2026, offering a fresh and intimate new entry into the world of Game of Thrones.
Also Read: First Poster for ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Reveals a New Dawn for Westeros
