Acclaimed author George RR Martin says his new series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is one of the "lighter and happier" stories set in the world of Game of Thrones, driven by two characters he considers among the best he has ever created.
Ordered to series in April 2023, the prequel is based on Martin‘s Tales of Dunk and Egg fantasy novellas and takes place roughly 100 years before Game of Thrones. The six-episode series tells the story of Ser Duncan the Tall, played by Peter Claffey and his squire Aegon V Targaryen, also known as Dunk and Egg, portrayed by Dexter Sol Ansell.
"It's just a story that really seemed to be working for me. And it came alive, and I had these two characters. I knew I had to write more about them because they're two of the best characters I've ever created, and they're unlike other characters that I have ever created," Martin said in a video provided by HBO.
The 77-year-old author said that writing the character of Egg was particularly meaningful to him. "I don't write a lot about children because I don't have any. I was one once and I try to go back and see how I was feeling there. So to create a character like Egg and have the feeling that I did it right, and then a character like Dunk - who's very different from me too - I really like the characters and the general tone of the story," he said.
While the series contains familiar elements of his fantasy world, swordplay, betrayals and deaths, Martin said its overall mood sets it apart from Game of Thrones as well as House of the Dragon. "It is lighter and happier than the other books... I think it's come out wonderfully and that people will really like it," he added.
Apart from Peter Claffey and Dexter, the series also stars Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen, Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen, Tanzyn Crawford as play Tanselle, Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, and Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen.
Ross Anderson, Edward Ashley, Henry Ashton, Youssef Kerkour, Daniel Monks, Shaun Thomas, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Steve Wall and Danny Webb are guest stars on the series.
The show, which started streaming on JioHotstar from January 19, has already been renewed for a second season. New episodes drop every Monday in India on the streamer. Thanks to the positive reviews for its tone and fresh take on the world of Game of Thrones, the prequel has already been generating significant interest among fans of the show and books.
"I do know that among my readers, the Dunk and Egg novellas are very popular. A lot of my fans say 'these are the best things George has ever done.' But I think there's enough people who would like the world to be big and varied with a lot of different stories in it," he said.