The latest Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has brought a new generation of Targaryens to the screen, and with them, a cast of actors who might look familiar even if their silver wigs are new. The HBO series, which premiered on January 18, 2026, introduces viewers to a younger Westeros, set roughly 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones and about 80 years after House of the Dragon.
At the center of the Targaryen drama in episode 2 is Prince Aerion Targaryen, also known as Aerion “Brightflame.” He is the second son of Prince Maekar Targaryen and quickly establishes himself as a major presence at the Ashford tourney. The actor bringing this arrogant and cruel prince to life is Finn Bennett, and if his face rings a bell, there is a good reason for that. Bennett has been building an impressive resume over the past few years with roles in some of the most talked-about shows on television.
Who is Finn Bennett? A Rising Star with Acting in His Blood
Finn Bennett is a 24-year-old Irish-British actor born in 1999 in Homerton, London. He comes from a family deeply rooted in storytelling. His father is Ronan Bennett, an Irish novelist and screenwriter known for his work on shows like Top Boy and films like The Enemy. His late mother was Georgina Henry, a respected British journalist who worked at The Guardian.
Bennett began his acting journey early, taking Saturday drama classes at the Stagecoach Performing Arts school in Islington. Unlike many actors who go to university for drama, Bennett chose a different path. He worked various jobs until he booked his first significant role, showing that raw talent and determination can sometimes beat formal training .
The Breakout Role: Officer Peter Prior in ‘True Detective: Night Country’
For most viewers, the first time they really noticed Finn Bennett was in the fourth season of HBO’s anthology crime series True Detective: Night Country. The season, which premiered in January 2024, starred Jodie Foster as Chief Liz Danvers and Kali Reis as Trooper Evangeline Navarro.
Bennett played Officer Peter Prior, a young, ambitious policeman caught between his loyalty to Chief Danvers and the expectations of his father, Captain Hank Prior, played by John Hawkes. His performance was widely praised by critics and audiences alike.
Critics took notice of Bennett’s ability to hold his own against seasoned actors like Foster and Hawkes. Caryn James of the BBC called his performance “vivid and convincing,” noting that he played “a smart and good-hearted young policeman who idolizes Liz, jumping when she calls so much that it jeopardizes his marriage” . Nick Levine of NME also praised Bennett, saying he “impresses as Peter Prior, an ambitious young officer whose loyalty to Danvers causes problems at home” .
The role put Bennett on the map as a rising talent to watch. The buzz around his performance even led to speculation about a potential Emmy nomination in the Best TV Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actor category, though he ultimately did not receive a nomination that year .
From Alaska to Westeros: Becoming Aerion Targaryen
After his success in True Detective, Bennett quickly landed his next major role. In June 2024, it was officially confirmed that he would join the cast of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as Prince Aerion Targaryen . The show began filming around that time, and fans eagerly awaited the first look at the new Targaryen family.
In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Aerion Targaryen is not a hero. In fact, he is one of the main antagonists of the first season. Based on George R.R. Martin’s novella The Hedge Knight, the story follows Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey) and his young squire Egg (played by Dexter Sol Ansell), who is secretly Aegon Targaryen, the youngest son of Prince Maekar.
Aerion, the second son of Maekar, is cruel, arrogant, and believes he is better than everyone else. In the book lore, he is sometimes called “Aerion the Monstrous” because of his terrible behavior. He serves as a foil to the more honorable members of his family and creates serious problems for Dunk and Egg during the tourney at Ashford .
The first look at Finn Bennett as Aerion was shared on social media in October 2025, showing him in full Targaryen costume with the signature silver hair . Fans immediately took notice, with many expressing excitement about seeing Bennett take on a villainous role after playing the sympathetic Peter Prior in True Detective.
“First look at Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen in ‘A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS’ ๐ก๏ธโ๏ธ๐ฅ Premiering January 18, 2026 on HBO.” – @westerosies on X
Other Credits: ‘Black Doves,’ ‘Warfare,’ and More
While True Detective and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are his highest-profile roles to date, Finn Bennett has been working steadily in British television and film for over a decade. His career actually began much earlier, when he was just a child actor.
Early Television Appearances
Bennett made his television debut way back in 2010 in an episode of the classic ITV detective drama Foyle’s War. He played a young version of a character portrayed by Andrew Scott (who many now know as the “Hot Priest” from Fleabag or Moriarty in Sherlock) .
In 2013, he appeared in an episode of the Channel 4 crime drama Top Boy, a show that would later gain international fame on Netflix. He played a character named Noah in the second season .
Other early credits include the 2015 BBC One television film Cider with Rosie, a recurring role as Ewen in the first series of Liar in 2017, and a part in the Channel 4 drama Kiri in 2018, where he played Simon Warner .
Recent and Upcoming Projects
In 2021, Bennett had a role in the Sky Atlantic historical drama Domina, playing a character named Marcellus. That same year, he appeared in the horror film A Banquet and made a guest appearance in the HBO series The Nevers .
More recently, Bennett joined the cast of the Netflix spy thriller series Black Doves. The show, which premiered in December 2024, stars Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw. Bennett had a recurring role as Cole Atwood in the series .
He is also set to appear in the upcoming A24 war film Warfare, directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Civil War) and Ray Mendoza. The film, which is expected to be released in 2025, features a cast that includes Kit Connor, Cosmo Jarvis, and Will Poulter alongside Bennett .
The Targaryen Family in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
To understand where Finn Bennett fits into the new show, it helps to look at the full Targaryen family tree as presented in the series. Episode 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms introduces the Targaryen clan as they arrive in Ashford for the great tourney.
Here are the main Targaryen characters and the actors who play them:
- Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Targaryen: Also known as Baelor Breakspear, he is the eldest son and heir of King Daeron II and serves as his father’s Hand of the King. Carvel is known for playing the lead in Dalgliesh and Tony Blair in The Crown .
- Oscar Morgan as Prince Valarr Targaryen: The elder son of Baelor and second in line to the throne. He participates in the opening joust at the end of episode 2. Morgan previously played Turner Hayes in the short-lived series Gotham Knights and appeared in Masters of the Air .
- Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen: The younger brother of Baelor and the fourth son of King Daeron II. He is the father of Aerion, Daeron, and Aegon (Egg). Spruell appeared as Ole Munch in Fargo season 5 and Horace in Dune: Prophecy .
- Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen: The second son of Maekar, cruel and arrogant, and the main antagonist of the first season .
- Henry Ashton as Prince Daeron Targaryen: The eldest son of Maekar, who appears in episode 1 as the drunk man Dunk meets in a tavern. Ashton played the lead in My Lady Jane and appeared in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder .
- Dexter Sol Ansell as Aegon Targaryen / Egg: The youngest son of Maekar and the secret squire to Ser Duncan the Tall. Ansell previously played Young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes .
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How to Watch ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is currently airing on HBO and streaming on HBO Max. The first season consists of six episodes.
The release schedule saw a small change due to the 2026 Super Bowl. While episodes normally air on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET, the fourth episode was released early on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 3:01 a.m. ET to avoid competing with the big game. The final two episodes will return to the regular Sunday schedule, airing on February 15 and February 22 .
The premiere was a massive success for HBO. The first episode drew approximately 6.7 million viewers across all platforms in its first three days, making it one of the top three series launches in the history of HBO Max, trailing only behind House of the Dragon and The Last of Us .
For viewers in the UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other international markets, the show is available on streaming platforms that carry HBO content, with episodes typically becoming available shortly after the U.S. broadcast.
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