‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff drops first look at ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’

The Dance of the Dragons has only just begun on House of the Dragon, but HBO is giving us a first look at the next Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

The first image of Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall has arrived as production kicks off in Belfast, Ireland. Not only that, but five other actors have been confirmed for the cast.

Finn Bennett will play Aerion Targaryen, Bertie Carvel will play Baelor Targaryen, Tanzyn Crawford will play Tanselle, Daniel Ings will play Ser Lyonel Baratheon, and Sam Spruell will play Maekar Targaryen.

Maekar Targaryen is the current ruler of Westeros in this timeline of Game of Thrones history, which is a century before the events of the original series but after the events of House of the Dragon. His son is Prince Aerion, and his brother is Prince Baelor. Ser Lyonel is the heir to Storm’s End who goes by the moniker of Laughing Storm. As for Tanselle, a.k.a. Tanselle Too-Tall, is a Dornish puppeteer.

They all join Claffey’s young co-lead, Dexter Sol Ansell, who plays Egg, the name for Dunk’s diminutive squire.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on the events of George R.R. Martin’s series of Dunk and Egg novellas. Season 1 will adapt the first of these, “The Hedge Knight,” to be followed by adaptations of “The Sworn Sword” and “The Mystery Knight.” Dunk is a former squire who dons his recently deceased knight’s armor, declares himself a knight, and haphazardly enters a tourney, placing him in the path of Aerion, Baelor, and Lyonel. Shenanigans ensue!

“Dunk and Egg is about the small folk who suffer at the hands of the game of thrones as it’s played by the nobles,” Ryan Condal, House of the Dragon co-creator and one of the spinoff’s executive producers, previously told Entertainment Weekly.

Ira Parker writes and executive produces A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms with Martin. EP Owen Harris will direct the first three of the six-episode first season, and HBO now confirms Sarah Adina Smith (Lessons In Chemistry) will direct the other three.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to premiere on HBO in 2025.