While Game of Thrones completed its eight-season run back in 2019, HBO wasn’t about to let the Westeros well run dry. The network came out with House of the Dragon in 2022, followed by a second season of that prequel series in 2024. Now, HBO is delivering another spinoff – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
If you plan to keep up with the latest adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy masterworks, here is everything you need to know before the first episode premieres:
When does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms come out?
Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and most other major HBO titles, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will release one episode a week. There will only be six episodes in season 1, but the network already renewed the show for season 2 set to premiere in 2027.
Season 1, episode 1 will drop on Sunday, January 18 at 9 p.m. ET. The episode, titled “The Hedge Knight” is expected to have a runtime around 40 minutes, with the following five episodes coming in between 31 and 37 minutes.
(Warning: Spoilers for Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon seasons 1 + 2 ahead.)
Who will show up this season?
Given where A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms slots into the broader A Song of Ice and Fire timeline, there won’t be too many familiar faces across this latest series. Still, there will be plenty of familiar family names, ancestors and heirs to keep an eye on. Here is every main cast member we know so far:
- Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall
- Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg
- Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen
- Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel ‘The Laughing Storm’ Baratheon
- Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion ‘Brightflame’ Targaryen
- Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor ‘Breakspear’ Targaryen
- Henry Ashton as Prince Daeron ‘the Drunken’ Targaryen
- Shaun Thomas as Ser Raymun ‘The Reluctant’ Fossoway
- Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway
- Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion
- Wade Briggs as Ser Roland Crakehall
- Ross Anderson as Ser Humfrey Hardyng
- Steve Wall as Lord Leo ‘Longthorn’ Tyrell
- Danny Collins as Ser Humphrey Beesbury
- Russell Simpson as Lord Medgar Tully
- Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate
- Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree
What to expect in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. The first story, The Hedge Knight, was published in 1998. The Sworn Sword hit the shelves in 2003, while The Mystery Knight came out in 2010. Martin hasn’t published another installment in the 16 years since, but he has publicly discussed plans for five more Dunk and Egg stories. However, the 77-year-old has halted production on those novellas until he finishes The Winds of Winter, the next book in A Song of Ice and Fire.
Given the length of each novella, plus the episode count and runtime of season 1, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will probably adapt The Hedge Knight pretty closely. It is set 77 years after House of the Dragon season 2 and 89 years before Game of Thrones season 1.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will follow Ser Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight. He will roam Westeros with his bald child squire, Egg, participating in tournaments and running into lords along the way.
We’ll avoid spoilers for certain characters’ true identities, since the HBO marketing team seems to be hiding some key plot points in the promotional material, but you should know that the Targaryens once again play a major role in this story. You don’t necessarily need to know who comes out on top of the Targaryen civil war portrayed in House of the Dragon, just that some of their descendants remain in power. The last dragon has died at this point in the timeline, though, while Maester Aemon is only a few years old.
At the same time, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms won’t focus on nearly as much palace intrigue as Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon. Per showrunner Ira Parker, the series will stay grounded in the perspective of the lower-class characters rather than high-borns. If Dunk or Egg aren’t in the room, we probably won’t get much of it.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 86% Tomatometer rating.
