A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, HBO's upcoming spin-off series to Game of Thrones has set a new release window. The show, earlier expected to premiere late 2025, will now have a January 2026 release, announced the streamer.
Ordered to series in April 2023, the prequel is based on George RR Martin‘s Tales of Dunk and Egg fantasy novellas and takes place roughly 90 years before Game of Thrones. The six-episode series tells the story of Ser Duncan the Tall, who will be played by Peter Claffey and his squire Aegon V Targaryen, also known as Dunk and Egg, portrayed by Dexter Sol Ansell. The series wrapped production in September last year.
Apart from Peter Claffey and Dexter, the film 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 set to guest star.
The official logline says, "A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends."
While Owen Harris, best known for directing the Black Mirror episodes 'San Junipero' and 'Be Right Back', will direct three of the show's six episodes, the other three will be directed by Sarah Adina Smith. Martin and Ira Parker are writers and executive producers on the show. Ryan Condal, Vince Gerardis, Owen Harris, and Sarah Bradshaw also executive produce. This is HBO's second spin-off show after the critically acclaimed House of The Dragon, which has already telecast two seasons and has been renewed for a third season.
According to showrunner Ira Parker, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will differ from Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, as it will not feature an opening title sequence—an element considered significant to the show. Instead, it will have a "a simple title card with medieval typography in between the beginning action of each episode." There won't be dragons on the show either. "This could basically be 14th century Britain. This is hard nose, grind it out, gritty, medieval knights, cold with a really light, hopeful touch. It's a wonderful place to be," Parker added.