A new image from the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has been released, giving fans a first clear look at the two main characters. The show focuses on the adventures of the hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, Egg. This new visual sets the tone for the series ahead of its scheduled debut on January 18, 2026 on HBO and Max.
The recently revealed picture shows Peter Claffey as Dunk and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg sharing a quiet moment inside a tent, with candles illuminating the scene. This first glimpse highlights the close bond between the two characters, which forms the emotional core of the new show. The series is based on George R. R. Martin’s beloved “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas and is set about a century before the events of Game of Thrones.
The Story of Dunk and Egg
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adapts the first of George R. R. Martin’s novellas, The Hedge Knight. The story follows a young, courageous, but inexperienced knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his small squire, Egg, who secretly is a Targaryen prince named Aegon. The series is set in a period when the Targaryen dynasty still holds the Iron Throne, but the last dragons are only a memory for the people of Westeros.
The official description for the series states it will follow “a young, naive 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.” The story begins with Dunk traveling to Ashford to compete in a tournament, where he meets and unknowingly takes on a Targaryen prince as his squire.
Behind the Scenes and Cast
The series is created by George R. R. Martin and Ira Parker, who also serves as the showrunner. The directors for the first season are Owen Harris, who directed the first three episodes, and Sarah Adina Smith, who directed the remaining three. The production wrapped up filming in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in September 2024.
The show features a large ensemble cast that brings the world of Westeros to life. The main cast includes Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg. They are joined by several key actors playing members of the Targaryen family and other noble houses:
- Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen
- Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Targaryen
- Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen
- Henry Ashton as Prince Daeron Targaryen
- Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon
- Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, a Dornish puppeteer
Other cast members include Danny Webb, Edward Ashley, Shaun Thomas, Youssef Kerkour, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, and Daniel Monks.
Series Tone and Fan Expectations
Unlike the large-scale political wars of Game of Thrones or the dynastic conflicts of House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is planned as a more intimate and character-driven story. Francesca Orsi, Head of Drama Series and Films at HBO, described the show as aiming for a more “intimate” approach. The first season will consist of six episodes.
Showrunner Ira Parker explained the creative vision, noting that the show aims to closely follow Dunk’s point of view.
“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 wanted 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 focus on a grounded, personal journey through Westeros offers a different perspective on the world fans have come to know. George R. R. Martin has also said that the series will be “much shorter” than its predecessors and have a “much different tone.”
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Release Schedule and Future Seasons
The premiere date for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set for January 18, 2026. The series will be released weekly on HBO and will be available for streaming on Max. In a show of confidence, HBO officially renewed the series for a second season in November 2025, before the first season has even aired. The second season is expected to be released in 2027.
HBO executives have expressed strong belief in the project and its leads. Reports indicate that the network is already considering a three-season plan for the series, based on early impressions of Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell’s performances as Dunk and Egg. The first teaser trailer for the series was released in October 2025, followed by the main trailer which debuted at New York Comic Con, building excitement for the upcoming adventure.
