A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will debut in the USA on HBO on Sunday, January 18 and on Sky and streaming platform NOW on January 19.
Like Game of Thrones, The Last of Us and other major HBO shows, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is expected to be simulcast on both sides of the Atlantic, so there’s no need to wait to watch the show.
The new drama is shorter than its predecessors, with only six episodes, which will air weekly. So, those who prefer to binge-watch boxsets will have to exercise some patience.
HBO has confirmed that it’s already given the green light for season two of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, with filming commencing in Belfast in December 2025. Season two is anticipated to be released sometime in 2027.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms boasts an impressive cast and, given the time period, there’s no overlap with either Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon.
The cast is led by Irish actor and former rugby union player Peter Claffey, known for his roles in BBC’s horror-comedy Wreck and Apple TV+’s BAFTA-winning Bad Sisters. He will be playing the character of Ser Duncan the Tall, also known as ‘Dunk’.
Joining him is up-and-coming British child actor Dexter Sol Ansell, who will portray Aegon V Targaryen or ‘Egg’. Ansell has previously appeared in The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, The Midwich Cuckoos, and ITV’s Emmerdale.
Finn Bennett, known for his roles in True Detective, Kiri and Liar, will take on the role of the antagonist Aerion Targaryen.
Bertie Carvel, who has starred in Dalgliesh, The Crown and Doctor Foster, will play Baelor Targaryen, Egg’s wise uncle and the heir-apparent to the Iron Throne.
Tanzyn Crawford, known for her roles in Swift Street, Tiny Beautiful Things, and Servant, will star as Tanselle.
Daniel Ings, who has appeared in I Hate Suzie, The Gentlemen, and Sex Education, will play the boorish Ser Lyonel Baratheon.
Sam Spruell, known for his roles in Fargo and The Gold, will portray Maekar Targaryen, the father to Aerion, Egg and Daeron and the younger brother of Baelor.
Ross Anderson, who has credits in The Rig and Shetland, will star as Ser Humfrey Hardyng.
Danny Webb, known for his roles in The Regime opposite Kate Winslet and Batman prequel series Pennyworth, will take on the part of Dunk’s late mentor Ser Arlan of Pennytree.
The remaining cast features Masters of the Air’s Edward as Ser Steffon Fossoway, My Lady Jane and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’s Henry Ashton portraying Daeron ‘The Drunken’ Targaryen, Home and Significant Other’s Youssef Kerkour taking on Steely Pate, Netflix’s KAOS star Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, Four Lives’ Shaun Thomas playing Raymun Fossoway, Avengers: Infinity War’s Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer, and Steve Wall from Dune: Part Two and The English as Lord Leo ‘Longthorn’ Tyrell.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms unfolds in 209 AC (After the Conquest), positioning its narrative approximately 100 years prior to Game of Thrones’ events and under a century following House of the Dragon’s beginning. Consequently, the series slots perfectly between its predecessors.
Sky explains: “This time period is a state of change for the Seven Kingdoms. While the Targaryens still hold the Iron Throne, they are now without the dragons that made them so fearsome. While the last dragon is still within living memory, great destinies, powerful foes and dangerous exploits await these two unlikely heroes.”
What is the plot of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms draws its inspiration from George R. R. Martin’s The Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, which were released between 1998 and 2010. Martin has previously indicated his intention to expand the saga further, though he remains occupied with completing the original Game of Thrones novels.
The series centres on the eponymous hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his escapades alongside Egg as they journey throughout the Seven Kingdoms, participate in tournaments, and find themselves embroiled in peril.
Indeed, HBO has unveiled a teaser trailer that initially hints at an epic production. Through voiceover, Dunk declares: “I was squire to Ser Arlan of Pennytree since I was a boy. He charged me to be a good knight, to defend the weak and the innocent. I swore that I would.”
Nevertheless, the atmosphere dramatically transforms from solemn to humorous when Dunk receives orders to step aside because he isn’t Baelor Targaryen.
The preview also showcases an encounter between Dunk and Egg, where the future monarch informs the towering character that he’s unfamiliar with him and only recognises the “good” knights.
The trailer additionally presents a sequence of clips from the upcoming series, which guarantees spectacular conflicts as Dunk must battle for his life against overwhelming odds and his modest origins.
In contrast to Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adopts a more cheerful approach that reflects the spirit of its source material.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will air on HBO in the USA on Sunday, January 18 and on Sky and NOW on Monday, January 19