The search for the perfect “Egg” for HBO’s new Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, started and ended with the same young actor. Showrunner Ira Parker revealed that Dexter Sol Ansell was the very first actor he saw for the part, and after a months-long global search, the team came right back to him. The series, which premiered on January 18, follows the adventures of a wandering hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his clever squire, Egg.
How the Casting Directors Found Their Egg
The process to find the young actor to play Egg, a bald and secretive boy who becomes a knight’s squire, was extensive. The casting directors searched worldwide, seeing what Parker described as “thousands of Eggs”. From this massive pool, the first audition tape sent to Parker featured Dexter Sol Ansell at the top of the list.
Parker knew immediately. “Dexter, immediately,” he said. “He was number one of the very first batch… Watched the audition, nailed it. OK, great, let’s sign him up”. Despite the instant feeling, the production went through the full, lengthy casting process. “We did do the many-months-long [casting] process then we came all the way back to the beginning,” Parker stated.
The Chemistry Read That Sealed the Deal
The final test was a chemistry read, where the top candidates for Dunk and Egg performed together. For the role of Ser Duncan the Tall, the show found Peter Claffey, an ex-professional rugby player from Ireland with experience in drama and comedy. Parker noted that finding someone nearly seven feet tall who could handle both humor and drama was a unique challenge.
When Claffey and Ansell stood together for their chemistry read, the decision became simple. Parker and the director, Owen Harris, shared a look. “This is the show. This is easy, good. We can all go home now,” Parker recalled. He described their unspoken physical chemistry as resembling brothers who had grown up together.
“The way they related to each other just in an unspoken physical way was they felt like they had been brothers their whole lives,” said showrunner Ira Parker.
Showrunner’s Vision for a Different Kind of Westeros Story
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Tales of Dunk and Egg” novellas. Parker, who previously worked on House of the Dragon, aimed for a different tone than the other Thrones series. He described the show as a more grounded, character-driven story and a “natural on-ramp” for viewers who were previously put off by the intensity of Game of Thrones.
“We’re not throwing a kid out of a window in the very first episode,” Parker joked, highlighting the lighter approach. “But just, like, give us a second”. The story is told from the perspective of Dunk, a young knight who feels like an outsider at a major tournament. The bond between the two main characters is central, reminiscent of other beloved Thrones duos like Arya and the Hound.
Parker worked closely with George R.R. Martin, who has provided outlines for many more Dunk and Egg stories. “George has outlined 12 more of these stories that he’s shared with me,” Parker said, suggesting potential for many more seasons if the show is successful.
The Actors’ Experiences Landing the Iconic Roles
For the actors, getting these parts was a major life event. Peter Claffey admitted the audition process was terrifying. “I couldn’t sleep, I was terrified. It was just serious, almost hospitalisation-like levels of panic and anxiety,” he said. When he finally got the call that he landed the part, his first thought was, “I’m in serious trouble here”.
Dexter Sol Ansell showed extreme commitment from the start. He was told early in the audition process that he would have to shave his head for the role, with no option for a bald cap. His response was immediate excitement: “Yes, finally, something different. I’m bored of my hair”.
The two leads had time to build a strong rapport before filming, rehearsing the first episode extensively. Claffey credited this with easing nerves, especially since he is in almost every scene. He also praised his young co-star, saying, “I found myself learning a lot from Dexter himself”.
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Where to Watch ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is now available to stream. The series premiered on January 18, 2026.
- In the U.S., new episodes air on HBO and stream on HBO Max.
- In the U.K., the show is available on Sky and NOW.
- Across Europe, it is streaming on HBO Max.
Filming for Season 2 is already underway. The show was renewed early, and Parker confirmed the team has already shot several days of the new season. The second season will adapt Martin’s second novella, The Sworn Sword.
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