The search for the perfect Dunk and Egg in the new Game of Thrones spin-off did not take months of stressful searching. Ira Parker, the showrunner for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, knew he had found his stars almost immediately after opening his first email from the casting director.
The new HBO series, which premiered on January 18, 2026, follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk), a hedge knight, and his young squire Egg. The show is based on George R. R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas. For Parker, getting the casting right was the most important job. He recently shared the story of how Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell got their roles, and it turns out the process was surprisingly simple.
The First Tape That Changed Everything
Parker was looking for the actor to play Egg, a sharp-witted nine-year-old boy who secretly holds a royal secret. The showrunner did not have to dig through hundreds of tapes to find the right kid.
Dexter Sol Ansell was the very first name on the very first list the casting director sent. Parker clicked the link, watched the audition, and immediately knew the search was over.
“Very first email from my casting director, very top, number one, literally, Dexter Sol Ansell. Clicked on the link, watched the audition. That’s the guy. Great, let’s sign him up.” – Ira Parker
The casting director told Parker to slow down and watch other actors. The team spent months doing the proper work, meeting other kids, and holding chemistry reads. But after all that time, they came right back to where they started. Parker called the moment “kismet” because it felt like destiny.
Ansell, who is now 11 years old, had already built an impressive resume. He played a young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes at age eight. He has been acting since he was two years old, which gave him more experience than his older co-star.
Finding the Perfect Dunk
While Ansell was the instant choice, finding Dunk took a bit more time. Peter Claffey came from a completely different world before trying acting. He used to play rugby union for Galwegians RFC and only started acting in 2022.
Parker remembered what his casting director said about Claffey. Because Claffey was new to acting, he was growing and getting better every single day. The casting director noticed that “every single time I see him, he is just exponentially better than last time.” Parker wanted to bet on someone who would grow quickly as the show went on.
Claffey came in for auditions three, four, or five times. Each time, the team became more sure that he was their Dunk. But the real test was still ahead.
The Chemistry Read That Sealed the Deal
Finding two good actors was not enough. The whole show depends on the bond between Dunk and Egg. Parker needed to see if Claffey and Ansell could feel like brothers on screen.
The final chemistry read happened with Parker and director Owen Harris in the room. When Claffey and Ansell stood next to each other for the first time, everything clicked.
“I mean, my director, Owen Harris, and I were sitting in that room, and we just looked at each other as soon as they, you know, stood next to each other. This is the show. This is easy, good. We can all go home now.” – Ira Parker
Parker called it “the least stressful decision we’ve ever had to make.” The two actors built up their real-life friendship by spending time together at arcades in Belfast playing games like Mario Kart. Claffey described Ansell as “a 25-year-old in a nine-year-old’s body” because of how mature the young actor was on set.
What George R.R. Martin Told the Cast
Getting the approval of George R. R. Martin, the author who created Westeros, was also important. Martin has been very protective of his work, especially after criticizing some changes in House of the Dragon.
Claffey shared what Martin told him before filming started. The author was direct and honest. Martin said, “This is my favorite of all my stories … so don’t f— it up.” Claffey admitted that message was “quite terrifying” to hear.
But Martin was also supportive. He visited the set and seemed “super-duper happy” with what he saw. The author has since written positive things about the show on his blog.
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The Show’s Success and Future
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has already become a hit for HBO. The season one finale got series-high ratings. The show is averaging 14 million viewers in the U.S. across all platforms and 26 million worldwide.
Because of this success, the show has already been renewed for a second season. The new season will be based on the second novella, The Sworn Sword. The story moves to the Reach, where a drought has caused a fight between two noble houses over water.
New cast members for season two include Lucy Boynton as Lady Rohanne Webber, Peter Mullan as Ser Eustace Osgrey, and Babou Ceesay as Ser Bennis of the Brown Shield. Filming is already happening in Belfast and Spain. The second season is expected to come out in 2027.
For now, viewers can watch the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO Max in the US. For viewers in the UK, the show airs on Sky Atlantic. In India, it streams on JioHotstar. Audiences in Canada can watch on Crave, and viewers in Australia can find it on Binge and Foxtel.
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